In　this　article,　we　investigate　whether　world　uncertainty　index　(WUI)　Granger-causes　visitor　arrivals　(VA)　in　19　emerging　economies　using　the　mixed-frequency　vector　autoregressive　model　(MF-VAR).　Moreover,　a　comparative　study　on　MF-VAR　and　low-frequency　vector　autoregressive　model　(LF-VAR)　had　been　analyzed　to　further　tap　the　need　for　MF-VAR　model.　Empirical　results　reveal　that　the　Granger　causality　is　not　homogeneous　for　emerging　economies.　To　be　more　specific,　WUI　Granger-causes　VA　in　some　emerging　economies,　while　others　do　not.　Also,　the　causality　running　from　WUI　to　VA　is　heterogeneous　at　various　horizons.　The　results　show　the　short-run　causality　running　from　WUI　to　VA　in　China,　Israel,　Morocco,　the　Philippines,　Poland,　and　Turkey　whereas　long-run　causality　in　Colombia.　From　these　findings,　different　countries　should　formulate　corresponding　tourism　strategies　to　deal　with　uncertainty.　©　2021,　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Nature　B.V.