ABSTRACT
The central theme of this study is to examine the link between foreign direct investment (FDI), tourism growth, and economic growth of Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. FDI and tourism are necessary for economic growth. The research uses a panel data set of 41 countries from 1995 to 2019. International tourist arrivals measure tourism growth, FDI inward flow is a proxy for FDI, and real GDP per capita measures economic growth. The results of the Autoregressive Dynamic Lag (ARDL) model suggest that FDI and economic growth positively affect tourism growth in the long run in SSA countries. The implication is that FDI is an important contributor to tourism development in SSA. Moreover, economic growth positively impacts tourism in the short run. Based on the empirical evidence, policymakers should implement programs that promote FDI with the attendant results of tourism development and economic growth.
