Crime &Delinquency, Ahead of Print.
To determine the extent to which tourism development affects crime rate, this study uses a dynamic spatial Durbin model (DSDM) to examine the spatial effect of tourism on crime. Based on a panel data set of 21 cities in Sichuan Province, China, over the 2008 to 2018 period, and after controlling for the interactive effect, the results reveal that tourism exerts a significantly negative impact on crime. This implies that tourism development can reduce crime. Moreover, tourism has a negative spatial spillover effect; thus, increased tourist arrivals decrease crime in neighboring cities. Per capita GDP, wages, unemployment, population density, hotels, scenic spots, and travel agents generate various direct and spillover effects. Finally, we provide policy suggestions.