*2.1. The Role of Transport Infrastructure and Communications Infrastructure*

Although scholars approach elements of tourism infrastructure from different perspectives, it is undeniable that transport infrastructure is an important representation of tourism infrastructure and directly impacts the tourism infrastructure that attracts visitors. Kaul (1985, p. 496) stated that "transport plays an important role in the successful creation and development of new attractions as well as the healthy growth of existing ones. Provision of suitable transport has transformed dead centers of tourist interest into active and prosperous places attracting multitudes of people". Indeed, the transport system performs the task of connecting areas with each other, as well as with tourist attractions, and becomes a factor in the competitiveness of the destination. International visitors often go to destinations where transportation systems are available and well developed. Prideaux (2000, p. 53) argues that "if the ability of tourists to travel to preferred destinations is inhibited by inefficiencies in the transport system there is some likelihood that they will seek alternative destinations ". Hence, investment in transport infrastructure development has been an issue of concern for governments for many years.

Along with transport infrastructure, communications infrastructure also plays a vital role in attracting tourists. Communications play an essential role in the development and sustainability of tourism. This helps travelers obtain destination information, make informed decisions about where to go, and helps countries and travel agencies promote and recommend their destinations. Pearce and Wu (2015) indicate that transportation, tourism facilities, and communications are the main components of hard infrastructure. Raina (2005) thinks that traffic and communications are elements in the physical components of tourism infrastructure, along with hotels, motels, and restaurants. Many recent empirical studies have demonstrated the role of transport infrastructure and communications in attracting tourists, resulting in transport infrastructure and communications infrastructure proving to be important factors affecting the number of tourists visiting (Khadaroo and Seetanah 2007b); transport infrastructure is a significant determinant of tourism inflows into a destination (Khadaroo and Seetanah 2008), transport capital having contributed positively to the number of tourist arrivals in both the short-run and the long-run (Seetanah and Khadaroo 2009), the construction of transportation infrastructure promoting the tourism industry (Yu 2016); thus, infrastructure and transportation are important components of the tourism supply chain (Ghaderi et al. 2018); developing transport infrastructures such as highways, airports, and railway stations, has a positive impact on overnight stays in all types of accommodation (Ouariti and Jebrane 2020). Furthermore, Tang (2020) argues that improving transport infrastructure is an important component of trade facilitation and "trade facilitation has improved the efficiency of the inbound tourism market, especially the indicator of infrastructure" Tang (2020, p. 51).
