Coupling coordination spatial pattern between natural attractions and tourism potential with study travel implications: China case

Abstract

Jiangxi has superior natural environmental conditions, but tourism development is insufficient. This study analysed the distribution characteristics of natural tourism resources in Jiangxi Province, evaluated the potential of ecotourism, spatialized the coupling and coordination relationship between tourism resources and tourism potential and proposed the direction of tourism development and study travel planning. Results: (1) Natural tourist attractions in Jiangxi are relatively dense in the north and northeast, while relatively sparse in the south. (2) Natural tourism potential is generally high in the surrounding and low in the middle and high in the south and low in the north, and are distributed in a strip like manner. (3) Jiangxi is basically in a coordinated state, with the overall coupling index is relatively high, while the spatial differences in coordination index are significant, indicating that natural tourism resources and natural tourism potential have a strong mutual influence but their distribution characteristics do not match. (4) Future optimized development zone of natural tourism will be in the north and northeast, and the expanded development zone will be in the northwest and southeast. Both thematic and comprehensive study travel routes can be launched in regions with relatively concentrated natural tourist attractions. This article provides a research perspective on the interaction between tourism resource endowment and development practices, and the results can provide reference for relevant fields, natural tourism development, and study travel practices.

Keywords:

• Tourism resources
• natural tourism
• tourism potential evaluation
• coupling coordination
• study travel
• Jiangxi

Author contributions

Xiaojun Wang: resources, data curation, conceptualization, chart organization, methodology and writing-original draft preparation, writing-review and editing; Yan Xiong: design route of study travel, study travel practice, resources, data curation, chart organization, methodology and writing-original draft preparation; Guangxu Liu: conceptualization, methodology and writing-original draft preparation, writing-review and editing, Funding; Shuyuan Lai, Aicun Xiang and Lihong Meng: resources, data curation, chart organization and writing-original draft preparation. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

All data supporting the findings of this study are included within the article. Data will be made available from authors on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 42361011), the Science and Technology Project of Educational Department of Jiangxi Province (No. GJJ201419), the Humanities and Social Science Research Planning Project for Universities of Jiangxi Province (No. GL20116), the University Students Innovation Practice Training Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and the Climbing Program Project of Science and Technology Innovation Strategy Special Fund of Guangdong Province (No. pdjh2020b0169).