ICT Infrastructure, OTT Market Growth, Economic Freedom, and International Tourism: A Cross-Country Empirical Study

Abstract

This study examined whether information and communication technology (ICT), over the top (OTT) market growth, and economic freedom affect tourism at the global level. Toward this end, the present study tested regression models of inbound tourism and outbound tourism with panel data from 50 countries covering the years 2013 to 2020. The results of the panel-data analysis suggest that high levels of OTT advertising revenue and mobile broadband penetration contribute to high levels of inbound tourism. The results also reveal that high OTT advertising revenue, labor freedom, and income are associated with high levels of outbound tourism. The obtained results underscore that ICT and media play key roles in promoting international tourism.