5A accreditation of tourist attractions in China and international tourist arrivals: A system generalised method of moments approach

While international accreditations for tourist attractions have been extensively examined, the impact of nationally developed accreditations has been less systematically investigated. Employing the system generalised method of moments approach, this study investigates the relationship between 5A tourist attractions, based on China's accreditation system, and international tourist arrivals in China, using annual city-level panel data spanning from 2002 to 2017. The empirical results suggest that the 5A accreditation has a significantly positive effect on international tourists' arrivals. Furthermore, our findings indicate that the 5A accreditation has a substantial impact on the number of international tourists visiting lesser-known cities. Moreover, the study reveals that international tourists from different countries respond differently to cultural and natural sites. This research provides valuable insights into tourism development strategies for local governments and tourist attractions.