Analysis of the coordinated evolution and driving mechanism of the coupling of tourism economy and urbanization in Southwest China

The coordinated development of the tourism economy and urbanization is one of the hot issues in the practice and research of regional development. Exploring the complex dynamic relationship between the two can promote new urbanization construction and sustainable regional economic development. This paper uses the coupled coordination degree (CCD) model and exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) model to study the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and driving mechanisms of the coordinated development of Southwest China’s tourism industry and urbanization. The results show that from 2010 to 2020, the comprehensive level of tourism economic development is in an inverted ‘V’ shape, while the complete level of urbanization is on a continuous upward trend. The spatial difference for CCD between the tourism economy and urbanization is remarkable, offering a spatial pattern of the highest in the middle, the second in the east, and the lowest in the west. In addition, the urbanization rate, population density, per capita fiscal revenue, and per capita park green land have significant negative spatial effects on CCD. Per capita budgetary revenue has a positive spatial effect on CCD with a time lag. This study provides a decision-making reference for promoting tourism development and urbanization in southwest regions.