The role of tourism targeted assistance in enhancing endogenous motivation among the economically disadvantaged: a quasi-natural experiment

Stimulating the endogenous motivation of the impoverished individual is crucial to prevent the reoccurrence of widespread poverty, consolidate efforts of poverty eradication, and achieve rural revitalization. Considering whether villages receive tourism-targeted assistance as a quasi-natural experiment, using the Double Machine Learning (DML) method and six periods of balanced panel data from 392 impoverished households, the research analyzes the impact of tourism-targeted assistance on endogenous motivation. Findings indicate that, through promoting rural industry development and facilitating local employment, tourism-targeted assistance stimulate the endogenous motivation of the impoverished individuals efficiently. This effect is more pronounced in impoverished households with affluent labor force, high level of education and those engaged in tourism. Consequently, future efforts for rural revitalization should refine the strategy of targeted assistance based on the resource and demand of the rural development.