Ekmekçi, Zeynep; Güneş, Erkan; Taş, Muhammed

This study explores the bidirectional effect of online social comparison (OSC) on travel intentions (TI) and the mediating role of travel envy (ENVY) and self-enhancement motivation (SEM) in this relationship. Drawing on Social Comparison Theory (SCT), Self-Determination Theory (SDT), and Consumer Behavior (CB) theories, data from 422 participants were analyzed using a parallel mediation model in AMOS and the PROCESS macro in SPSS. The results indicate that OSC directly influences TI, with ENVY and SEM acting as significant mediators. These findings suggest that exposure to travel-related content on digital social media platforms can significantly shape travel planning. Additionally, the study provides valuable insights for tourism businesses and destination managers on how to leverage digital social networks as effective marketing tools.

Balli, Esra; Sigeze, Ciler; Manga, Muge; Birdir, Sevda; Birdir, Kemal

This study explores the impact of tourism on economic growth considering CO 2 emissions utilizing panel data techniques for a sample of Mediterranean countries. The cointegration tests reveal that there is a positive long-run equilibrium between tourism, CO 2 emissions and economic growth. This positive long-run relationship may suggest that tourism increases the level of CO 2 emissions and has a statistically significant impact on economic growth in Mediterranean countries. Emirmahmutoglu and Kose (2011. Testing for Granger causality in heterogeneous mixed panels. Economic Modelling, 28(3), 870–876.) test results reveal that the tourism-led growth hypothesis, which suggests that tourism contributes to economic growth, is valid for Egypt, Italy, and Spain. Additionally, there exists a bidirectional relationship between tourism and economic growth both in Morocco and Turkey.