Coupling Coordination Degree between the Socioeconomic and Eco-Environmental Benefits of Koktokay Global Geopark in China

Yiting Zhu, Xueru Pang, Chunshan Zhou and Xiong He
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Yiting Zhu: Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Xinjiang’s Historical and Cultural Tourism, College of Tourism, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830049, China
Xueru Pang: Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Xinjiang’s Historical and Cultural Tourism, College of Tourism, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830049, China
Chunshan Zhou: Key Laboratory of Sustainable Development of Xinjiang’s Historical and Cultural Tourism, College of Tourism, Xinjiang University, Urumqi 830049, China
Xiong He: School of Geography and Planning, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China

IJERPH, 2022, vol. 19, issue 14, 1-25

Abstract: The rapid economic growth of geoparks has put pressure on their ecological environments. Therefore, to ensure the sustainable development of geoparks, we must explore the coupling relationship between their socioeconomic benefits (SEBs) and eco-environmental benefits (EEBs). Based on coupling coordination theory and using statistical data from 2005 to 2018, in this study, we aimed to establish an indicator system for evaluating the coupling coordination degree (CCD) between the SEBs and EEBs of the Koktokay Global Geopark in China, which is both theoretically and practically relevant for research on the sustainable development of geoparks. As a result, we found the following: First, the comprehensive development level of the SEBs of the Koktokay Global Geopark showed a fluctuating upward trend during the study period. Second, the comprehensive development level of the EEBs of the geopark remained stable but fluctuated slightly: it declined from 2009 to 2012, affected by the deterioration of the eco-environment, and fell to its lowest point in 2012. By strengthening the protection of the eco-environment of geoparks, the EEBs gradually improved and became stable. Finally, we found that the CCD between the SEBs and EEBs of the Koktokay Global Geopark improved from mildly disordered to basically coordinated, indicating that the CCD is developing toward an increasingly higher level. The purpose of this study was to promote the reasonable development of geotourism while focusing on a sound eco-environment and to provide recommendations for the sustainable development of the Koktokay Global Geopark and a reference for the development of other similar geoparks.

Keywords: socioeconomic benefits; eco-environmental benefits; coupling coordination degree; Koktokay Global Geopark (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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