Tax Havens and Tourism: The Impact of the Panama Papers and the Crowding Out of Tourism by Financial Services

Zheng Chris Cao, Chris Jones, Yama Temouri

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    2 Scopus citations

    Abstract

    Tax havens are often connected to growth in tourism, as finance and tourism conveniently share infrastructural prerequisites. This paper addresses the detrimental impacts of a tax haven development strategy adopted by small open economies in relation to the development of their tourism industry. Utilizing the synthetic control method, we find that since the 2016 Panama Papers scandal, Panama’s tourism exports have fallen relative to an estimated counterfactual level that would have otherwise been attained. Moreover, based on an analysis of panel data drawn from 20 small open economies, we find that in the long run, the growth of the financial industry crowds out the tourism industry. Our findings warn tourism practitioners, based in tax havens, that they face an additional risk linked to potential tax scandals. Furthermore, the tourism industry may suffer reputational harm due to tax haven blacklisting and the crowding out of productive resources by the financial industry.

    Original languageBritish English
    Pages (from-to)841-857
    Number of pages17
    JournalJournal of Travel Research
    Volume63
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    StatePublished - Apr 2024

    Keywords

    • crowding out
    • synthetic control method
    • tax havens
    • the Panama Papers
    • tourism development

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