Journal Article

Spatial Network Structure and Influencing Factors of the Urban Tourism Economy in China: An Empirical Study Based on 284 Prefecture-Level Cities

Shi, Ya-Lan, Fan, Ling-Ling, Wang, Xiao-Yan

2025

Overview

Tourism increasingly reflects living standards, with its economic impact steadily growing. This research employs a modified gravity model and social network analysis to assess tourism-driven economic linkages among 284 Chinese prefecture-level cities (2007–2019). It investigates the spatial network structure of urban tourism sectors and identifies key influencing factors. The findings indicate that tourism economic connections have been consistently strengthened, but such connections’ overall level remains low, with significant intercity disparities, reflecting the “Matthew effect” prevalent in core cities. The interconnected web of urban tourism economies demonstrates strong mutual influence and ripple effects. The network’s structure is strengthening, but its unity could be enhanced. Furthermore, the spatial network is characterized by a “diamond” configuration, with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, the Wuhan area, and the Chengdu-Chongqing regions serving as pivotal axes connected by boundaries, demonstrating an evolution from points to lines and from lines to surfaces. The layout of urban tourism economies is really shaped by a few key things. Being close to other cities, having different attractions, and not being on the same level economically tends to bring cities together. On the flip side, if cities have very different industries, that can actually create some distance between them when it comes to tourism. This study puts forward specific strategies and suggestions. Plain Language Summary Tourism has become an important indicator of the standard of living, and the scale of the tourism economy has been continuously expanding as well. Based on tourism-related indicators from 284 prefecture-level cities in China between 2007 and 2019, this study employs a modified gravity model and social network analysis to measure the strength of tourism-related economic connections among the cities over 13 years. It analyzes the spatial network structure characteristics of urban tourism economies and discusses the influencing factors. The findings indicate that tourism economic connections have been consistently strengthened, but such connections’ overall level remains low, with significant intercity disparities, reflecting the “Matthew effect” prevalent in core cities. The spatial network of urban tourism economies exhibits significant correlation and spillover effects; although the network structure is gradually stabilizing, the overall network density requires further enhancement. Furthermore, the spatial network is characterized by a “diamond” configuration, with the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, the Pearl River Delta, the Wuhan area, and the Chengdu-Chongqing regions serving as pivotal axes connected by boundaries, demonstrating an evolution from points to lines and from lines to surfaces. Factors, such as geographical proximity, variations in tourism resource endowment, and differences in economic development levels, positively influence the formation of the urban tourism economic spatial network, while disparities in regional industrial structures exert a negative impact. This study proposes targeted countermeasures and recommendations. These include enhancing the economic strength of urban tourism, strengthening the spatial network connections within the tourism economy, and optimizing the spatial network structure in a rational manner.

• Publisher: SAGE Publications,SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC,SAGE Publishing
• Subject: Boundaries / Cities / Economic development / Economic factors / Economic impact / Gravity / Industrial Structure / Layout / Network Analysis / Proximity / Regions / Rivers / Social network analysis / Social networks / Spillover effect / Standard of living / Surface structure / Tourism / Urban areas