Measurement and Spatial Evolution of the Coupling Coordination among Ecological Civilization Construction, Tourism Industry, and High-Quality Economic Development in China
Based on panel data from 31 provincial-level administrative divisions in China (excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan region) from 2000 to 2024, this study employs the coupling coordination degree model and the standard deviation ellipse method to systematically examine the coupling coordination level and spatial evolution characteristics of ecological civilization construction, tourism industry development, and high-quality economic development. The findings are as follows: 1) The coupling degree among the three systems remains persistently high, ranging from 0.752 to 0.910 over the long term, while the coupling coordination degree increases only from 0.209 to 0.310, indicating a structural dilemma characterized by “high coupling but low coordination”. 2) The coordination level across these 31 provincial-level administrative divisions exhibits a pattern of “high in the east and low in the west, with widening disparities”. Beijing, Shanghai, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Jiangsu constitute the first tier, while western regions such as the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region and Qinghai Province remain locked in low-value zones over the long term. 3) The coordination degree in all four major regions shows a continuous upward trend; the eastern region takes the lead in entering moderate disorder, the central region registers the largest increase, while the western region remains in extreme disorder. 4) Spatial evolution exhibits a northeast-southwest orientation, with the azimuth angle decreasing steadily. The ellipse first becomes more circular and then more elongated, while spatial disparities first converge and then diverge. The center of gravity covers the three major coastal economic circles. This study reveals the underlying characteristics of close systemic interconnections yet lagging coordination, providing empirical evidence for regionally coordinated development policies.
References
[1]
Zhou, S.X. (2012) Theoretical Innovation and Practice of Ecological Civilization Construction with Chinese Characteristics. Qiushi, 19, 16-19. (In Chinese)
[2]
Xu, A.P. (2021) Evaluation and Influencing Factors of High-Quality Development of China’s Tourism Industry. Ph.D. Thesis, East China Normal University. (In Chinese)
[3]
Lyu, T.J. (2020) Measurement and Promotion of High-Quality Development of Tourism Industry. Ph.D. Thesis, Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. (In Chinese)
[4]
Ming, Q.Z. and Zhang, W.J. (2024) Unveiling the “Mythical” Rise of China’s Tourism: Dual Driving Forces of Effective Investment and Consumption Upgrading. Academic Exploration, No. 6, 24-33. (In Chinese)
[5]
Wei, Z.X. and Shi, X.G. (2021) Analysis of the Coupling Relationship between Ecological Sustainability and High-Quality Economic Development: An Empirical Study Based on Interprovincial Panel Data. East China Economic Management, 35, 11-19. (In Chinese)
[6]
Yu, J. and Wu, Q.R. (2024) Study on the Coupling Coordinated Development of Tourism Economy and Ecological Civilization in the Yellow River Basin. Journal of Arid Land Resources and Environment, 38, 181-189. (In Chinese)
[7]
Shu, X.L., Gao, Y.B., Zhang, Y.X., et al. (2015) Study on the Coupling Relationship and Coordinated Development between Tourism Industry and Eco-Civilization City. China Population, Resources and Environment, 25, 82-90. (In Chinese)
[8]
Jiang, H.L. and He, J.M. (2010) Research on Dynamic Coupling and Coordinated Development of Regional Economy and Eco-Environment System: Based on Jiangsu Province Data. Soft Science, 24, 63-68. (In Chinese)
[9]
Zhou, C., Feng, X.G. and Tang, R. (2016) Analysis and Prediction of Coupling Coordinated Development among Regional Economy, Ecological Environment and Tourism Industry: A Case Study of Provinces and Cities along the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Economic Geography, 36, 186-193. (In Chinese)
[10]
Hu, D., Xu, K.P., Yang, J.X., et al. (2004) The Impact of Economic Development on Environmental Quality: A Review of Domestic and International Research on the Environmental Kuznets Curve. Acta Ecologica Sinica, No. 6, 1259-1266. (In Chinese)
[11]
Zhong, X. and Liu, Y.H. (2012) Analysis on the Coupling Coordinated Development of Tourism-Economy-Ecological Environment in Guangdong Province. Tropical Geography, 32, 568-574. (In Chinese)
[12]
Huang, Q., Zeng, Y. and Jiang, Q. (2015) Research Progress on Promoting Ecological Civilization Construction in China. China Population, Resources and Environment, 25, 111-120. (In Chinese)
[13]
Wang, X.Q., Peng, Y.Y., Wu, X.J., et al. (2015) Comprehensive Evaluation and Spatial Differentiation of Ecological Civilization Construction Level in China. East China Economic Management, 29, 52-56. (In Chinese)
[14]
Bi, G.H., Yang, Q.Y. and Liu, S. (2017) Coupling Coordinated Development between Ecological Civilization Construction and Urbanization in Chinese Provinces. Economic Geography, 37, 50-58. (In Chinese)
[15]
Deng, Z.B., Zong, S.W., Su, C.W., et al. (2019) Study on the Coupling Coordinated Development and Driving Factors of Ecological Civilization Construction and New-Type Urbanization in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. Economic Geography, 39, 78-86. (In Chinese)
[16]
Shi, P.F., Li, X.M. and Xiong, Y.B. (2018) Measurement and Prospect Prediction of Coupling Correlation between Regional Beautiful China Construction and Tourism Development: A Case Study of 11 Provinces and Cities in the Yangtze River Economic Belt. China Soft Science, No. 2, 86-102. (In Chinese)
[17]
Guo, W., Yan, X.X. and Fan, L. (2022) Research on the Evaluation and Driving Factors of High-Quality Economic Development in Chinese Provinces. Dongyue Tribune, 43, 155-164. (In Chinese)
[18]
Huang, C. and Wu, C.Q. (2019) Study on the Main Functional Area System and Ecological Civilization Construction in Western China. China Soft Science, No. 11, 166-175. (In Chinese)
[19]
Rong, X.B., Hu, Z.H. and Xiong, X. (2016) Inter-Regional Differences in the Coupling Degree between Tourism Development and Ecological Civilization Construction. Economic Geography, 36, 189-194. (In Chinese)
[20]
Yu, R. and Cheng, J.H. (2019) Evaluation of Ecological Civilization in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Region Based on AHP-Fuzzy Model: A Panel Data Study of 13 Cities. Areal Research and Development, 38, 11-15. (In Chinese)
[21]
Lu, B.Y., Ming, Q.Z., Guo, X.Y., et al. (2018) Study on Spatial-Temporal Differences of Coupling Coordination Degree between Tourism Industry and Ecological Civilization Construction in Yunnan Province. Resource Development & Market, 34, 391-396. (In Chinese)
[22]
Huang, Y.L., Zhang, Q. and Luo, S.F. (2022) Research on the Coordination Degree between Tourism Industry Development and Ecological Civilization Construction in Ethnic Regions. Ecological Economy, 38, 130-136. (In Chinese)
[23]
Li, C., Peng, W., Shen, X., Gu, J., Zhang, Y. and Li, M. (2023) Comprehensive Evaluation of the High-Quality Development of the Ecological and Economic Belt along the Yellow River in Ningxia. Sustainability, 15, Article 11486. https://doi.org/10.3390/su151511486
[24]
Geng, S.T. and Wang, R. (2023) Evaluation of Coupling Coordination Level between Tourism Industry and High-Quality Economic Development and Its Spatiotemporal Evolution. Statistics & Decision, 39, 120-125. (In Chinese)
[25]
Zhao, X.M., Chen, L.Y. and Liu, C.J. (2021) Can Informal Environmental Regulation Induce Green Innovation? Verification from the Perspective of ENGOs. China Population, Resources and Environment, 31, 87-95. (In Chinese)
[26]
Sun, H. and Yuan, W.P. (2020) Research on the Relationship between Economic Resilience and High-Quality Economic Development in Western China. Regional Economic Review, No. 5, 23-35. (In Chinese)
[27]
Zhou, D.T. and Feng, C.C. (2020) The Coupling and Interaction Relationship between Technology Finance and High-Quality Economic Development: An Empirical Analysis Based on Coupling Degree and PVAR Model. Technology Economics, 39, 107-115. (In Chinese)
