Analyzing the Spatio-Temporal Distribution and Network Structure of Ecotourism Flow in Zhangjiajie

Xiaoming Liu, Mei Xu and Huiling Zhou
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Xiaoming Liu: College of Forestry, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410018, China
Mei Xu: College of Tourism, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410018, China
Huiling Zhou: School of Economics, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410018, China

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: Tourism flow is an important monitoring indicator for the industrial operation of ecotourism destinations, crucial in its planning, development, and marketing. Based on the travel journal data of popular tourism websites, this paper analyzed the spatial and temporal distribution, network structure, and the coupling characteristics between ecotourism flow and traffic accessibility in Zhangjiajie using standard deviation ellipse, social network analysis, kernel density estimation, and a spatial coupling model. The main results are as follows: (1) In terms of time distribution, the ecotourism flow in Zhangjiajie is mainly short-term tourism, with significant seasonal differences. (2) In terms of spatial structure, the ecotourism flow in Zhangjiajie presents a polygonal distribution of “core-edge”, forming a dense distribution area of Wulingyuan–Tianmen Mountain–Huanglongdong ecotourism flow. (3) In terms of spatial and temporal distribution, the connection intensity between the core area of ecotourism flow in Zhangjiajie and other scenic spots increases as the tourism length of stay increases. However, the radiation scope is mainly in the surrounding ecotourism scenic spots. (4) The coupling degree of ecotourism flow and traffic accessibility in Zhangjiajie is high, but the coupling coordination degree remains low on the whole. In addition, there is a serious mismatch between ecotourism flow and traffic accessibility in Zhangjiajie.

Keywords: ecotourism flow; spatial and temporal distribution; network structure; coupling coordination; Zhangjiajie (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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