Factors Influencing the Spatial Spillovers of the Interprovincial Tourism Economy Based on Three-dimensional Distance: Evidence From China

Abstract

This study applies a spatial econometric model to examine the impact of three-dimensional distance on interprovincial tourism economic spillover effects using panel data from 30 provinces in China from 2010 to 2019. The impacts of technological innovation, ecological environment, informatization level, industrial structure, infrastructure facilities, and location, on the indirect effect of the tourism economy are comparatively analyzed. It explores the regional characteristics and developmental changes of tourism economic spillover. The results show that, first, based on the three spatial matrices, the direct and total effect values of technological innovation are the largest when close to each other, and technological innovation among provinces with higher economic volumes significantly promotes positive interprovincial tourism economic spillover. Second, ecological environment is the main promoting factor of positive tourism economic spillover among neighboring provinces in China’s western region. Third, industrial structure optimization shows a significant positive spatial spillover effect. Fourth, with gradual infrastructure improvement, the influence of infrastructure facilities on the spillover effect of interprovincial tourism economy weakens gradually. Fifth, improved information technology levels can effectively promote positive spatial spillover of the tourism economy. Sixth, the influence of location on the positive spatial spillover of the interprovincial tourism economy shows a gradually increasing trend.