Tourism development level and tourism eco‐efficiency: Exploring the role of environmental regulations in sustainable development

Abstract Efficiency and environmental regulation are two key issues in the development of the tourism industry that require attention for sustainable development. Based on the panel data from 2010 to 2019, taking 31 provinces and districts across China as examples, the Super‐SBM (Super Slacks‐Based Measurement) model with undesirable output is used to measure the tourism eco‐efficiency of each region. Then the spatial Durbin model and the moderating effect model are used to analyze the comprehensive impact of environmental regulation and tourism development level on tourism eco‐efficiency. The results show that the overall tourism eco‐efficiency of 31 provinces is low, its average value is only 0.76, and there are high and low differences in the efficiency among provinces and regions with uneven distribution. The tourism eco‐efficiency of each province and district has a significant spatial correlation, with each variable significant at least at the 10% level, with spatial spillover effects and spatial radiation drive. The regression coefficients for environmental regulations are all significantly positive at least at the 5% level and above. The improvement of the degree of environmental regulation not only has an impact on the tourism eco‐efficiency of this province but also has a similar impact on the tourism eco‐efficiency of neighboring provinces. The difference in tourism development levels has a positive moderating effect on the relationship between environmental regulation and tourism eco‐efficiency. This study provides a reference for the sustainable and high‐quality development of tourism in China through an in‐depth investigation of the role of tourism eco‐efficiency and environmental regulation.