This study endeavors to examine the influence of green finance on inbound tourism. Leveraging the panel estimation method to control for individual and temporal differences enhances the precision of estimating variable relationships. Drawing on panel data collected from diverse provinces in China spanning the period 2010 to 2021, the research employs fixed effects, mediating effects, and moderating effect models for empirical analysis. The findings reveal that green finance exerts a significant positive impact on inbound tourism, characterized by regional heterogeneity. Green finance stimulates the development of inbound tourism through fostering green technological innovation and the utilization of renewable energy. However, the effectiveness of green finance on inbound tourism is negatively affected by environmental regulations. Practical policy recommendations include advocating for fiscal incentives and innovation in green financial products, establishing dedicated green investment funds to bolster research and development and investment in green technological innovation, promoting the adoption of renewable energy, enhancing the implementation of environmental regulations, and instituting transparent rules. Furthermore, the implementation of region-specific policies is recommended to tailor strategies to the unique characteristics of different locales. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]