Exploring the impact of digital economy on tourism employment

Purpose This study aims to empirically analyze the impact of digital on tourism employment. It investigates how different dimensions of digital economy affect tourism employment. Design/methodology/approach Using the data of 31 provinces in China from 2003 to 2022, this study makes an empirical analysis through the fixed effect model. Findings The results show that the digital economy has a significant negative impact on tourism employment, which has passed endogeneity and robustness tests. Specifically, digital platforms and digital users have a negative impact on tourism employment. Digital industries have a positive impact on tourism employment. In addition, product innovation and process innovation play a partial mediating role in the digital industries mechanism that affects tourism employment. Practical implications This study has significant practical implications for reducing tourism unemployment risks caused by digital platforms and users. It is crucial to expand the benefits of digital industry growth to enhance employment. Originality/value This study contributes to enhancing both theoretical frameworks and empirical insights into tourism employment. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this is one of the first studies to attempt to empirically analyze the impact of digital economy on tourism employment. This study also advances this body of knowledge by highlighting the mediating effect of innovation.