Investigating the Regional Convergence of Tourism and the Role of Tourism Infrastructure in Iranian Provinces

This study investigate the convergence in tourism development among Iranian provinces, and for this purpose, the convergence of beta (absolute and conditional), sigma convergence and club convergence has been evaluated. Tourism infrastructure types have been used as tool variables in conditional beta convergence. Therefore, also it has been investigated the role of tourism infrastructure in regional integration of tourism. The model of the dynamic panel data is estimated using the orthogonal re-parameterization approach for the period of 2011-2016 and for the 31 provinces. To study club convergence, the provinces are divided into two groups of provinces with negative convergence rate (group 1) and provinces with positive convergence rate (group 2). The results indicate a difference in the rate of convergence between the two groups, so that the provinces of group 2 have a faster trend in both types of beta convergence and club convergence. Also, the provinces of group 1 have a much higher tourism infrastructure, more population concentration and more tourists in other provinces. Also, these provinces are mostly known as provinces with the ultimate destination of travel, which also have a higher tourist longevity.