The Impact of Uber on the Tourism Industry of Sub-Saharan African Countries

Author Bios (50 Words for each Author)

Jun Yun Kim is a Ph.D. cadidate in Department of Economics at Korea University. He majors in international trade and development, especially the effect of rent-seeking behavior on protection, ODA on developing countries.

So Young Park, M.S., is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management at Pennsylvania State University, University Park. Her research interests include data-driven analysis in tourism, information science and technology in tourism economics, and human rights issues in tourism.

Bing Pan, Ph.D., is Associate Professor in the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Management at Pennsylvania State University, University Park. His research interests include data analytics, tourism big data, destination marketing, and benefits of travel.

Abstract (150 Words)

An under-developed public transit system can deter navigation within a destination, which negatively affects tourist volume, expenditure, and the perception for a destination. Uber can complement a public transportation system through providing a convenient, efficient, and transparent service. The study compares the tourist arrivals and tourist expenditure of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that adopted Uber and those that did not to investigate the impact of its introduction. The study employs DID—a quasi-experimental method—to estimate the effect of this specific intervention. The result indicates that availability of Uber has significantly positive influence on tourist volume and tourism expenditure even when income, political stability, urbanization, and internet usage are controlled. The result indicates that adopting Uber can be one of the many ways to attract more tourists and encourage their spending in sub-Saharan Africa.

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The Impact of Uber on the Tourism Industry of Sub-Saharan African Countries

An under-developed public transit system can deter navigation within a destination, which negatively affects tourist volume, expenditure, and the perception for a destination. Uber can complement a public transportation system through providing a convenient, efficient, and transparent service. The study compares the tourist arrivals and tourist expenditure of countries in Sub-Saharan Africa that adopted Uber and those that did not to investigate the impact of its introduction. The study employs DID—a quasi-experimental method—to estimate the effect of this specific intervention. The result indicates that availability of Uber has significantly positive influence on tourist volume and tourism expenditure even when income, political stability, urbanization, and internet usage are controlled. The result indicates that adopting Uber can be one of the many ways to attract more tourists and encourage their spending in sub-Saharan Africa.