IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jlands/v13y2024i10p1691-d1499990.html

Connections and Spatial Network Structure of the Tourism Economy in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei: A Social Network Perspective

Author

Listed:
  • Xiaoyuan Zhang

    (Business School, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
    Institute for Cultural and Tourism Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Xiankai Huang

    (Business School, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
    Institute for Cultural and Tourism Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Jinlian Shi

    (Business School, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
    Institute for Cultural and Tourism Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Yaomin Zheng

    (Business School, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
    Institute for Cultural and Tourism Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China)

  • Jiahong Wang

    (Business School, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China
    Institute for Cultural and Tourism Development, Beijing Technology and Business University, Beijing 100048, China)

Abstract

In the context of the coordinated development of Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei, examining the spatial connections and network structure characteristics of the tourism economy holds substantial theoretical and practical significance. This study constructs a tourism economic quality evaluation index system from four dimensions and optimizes the tourism economic gravity model by incorporating time distance and weight factors to dynamically simulate the intensity of tourism economic spatial connection (ITESC). Based on the new perspective of relational data, social network analysis is employed to investigate the spatial correlation network characteristics and group structure changes in the tourism economy within the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei urban agglomeration (BTHUA). The results demonstrate a significant improvement in overall tourism economic quality from 2013 to 2022, with the average quality increasing from 0.128 in 2013 to 0.157 in 2022. Tourism economic spatial connections are prevalent among cities, exhibiting heterogeneous characteristics, characterized by density in the north and relatively sparse in the south. The network cohesion of ITESC strengthens, and the network structure evolves from a highly centralized to a multi-centralized configuration, with increasingly frequent cooperation and interaction in tourism between cities. Beijing, Tianjin, and Shijiazhuang occupy central positions in the network, exhibiting strong ITESC and a high degree of connectivity, generating a significant “trickle-down effect” on peripheral cities. Consequently, strengthening ITESC between peripheral cities and core areas, as well as enhancing the bidirectional spillover of tourism development between cities, is crucial for the future sustainable and coordinated development of tourism in the BTHUA.

Suggested Citation

  • Xiaoyuan Zhang & Xiankai Huang & Jinlian Shi & Yaomin Zheng & Jiahong Wang, 2024. "Connections and Spatial Network Structure of the Tourism Economy in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei: A Social Network Perspective," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:10:p:1691-:d:1499990
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/10/1691/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2073-445X/13/10/1691/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Yin, Ping & Lin, Zhibin & Prideaux, Bruce, 2019. "The impact of high-speed railway on tourism spatial structures between two adjoining metropolitan cities in China: Beijing and Tianjin," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 80(C).
    2. Sylvain Dejean, 2020. "The role of distance and social networks in the geography of crowdfunding: evidence from France," Regional Studies, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 54(3), pages 329-339, March.
    3. Huixin Gong & Yaomin Zheng & Jinlian Shi & Jiaxin Wang & Huize Yang & Sinead Praise A. Sibalo & Amani Mwamlima & Jingyu Li & Shuting Xu & Dandan Xu & Xiankai Huang, 2023. "An Examination of the Spatial Spillover Effects of Tourism Transportation on Sustainable Development from a Multiple-Indicator Cross-Perspective," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-20, March.
    4. Yuewei Wang & Lidan An & Hang Chen & Yuyan Zhao, 2022. "Spatial Correlation and Influencing Factors of Tourism Eco-Efficiency in the Urban Agglomeration of the Yangtze River Delta Based on Social Network Analysis," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-21, November.
    5. Shanshan Shi & Menghao Liu & Jianchao Xi, 2022. "Hierarchical Structure and Organizational Model of County Tourism Network of the Tibetan Plateau," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(11), pages 1-18, October.
    6. Manrique-de-Lara-Peñate, Casiano & Santana Gallego, María & Valle, Elisabeth Valle, 2022. "The economic impact of global uncertainty and security threats on international tourism," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 113(C).
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Xiaoyuan Zhang & Jinlian Shi & Qijun Yang & Xinru Chen & Xiankai Huang & Lei Kong & Dandan Gu, 2025. "Spatiotemporal Patterns of Tourist Flow in Beijing and Their Influencing Factors: An Investigation Using Digital Footprint," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 17(15), pages 1-21, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Ren, Xiaohang & Xiao, Ya & Dong, Kangyin & Wang, Kun, 2025. "Adding fuel to the flames? Spatial convergence effects of railway development on global tourism industry," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 162(C), pages 545-558.
    2. Hang Chen & Cong Lu & Yuewei Wang & Lidan An, 2024. "Competitiveness Evaluation and Cooperation Network Analysis of Tourist Attractions from the Perspective of Co-Opetition in the Yangtze River Delta (YRD)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-20, January.
    3. Xiaodong Chen & Tian Wang & Xin Zheng & Fang Han & Zhaoping Yang, 2022. "The Structure and Evolution of the Tourism Economic Network of the Tibetan Plateau and Its Driving Factors," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-18, February.
    4. Xiao Feng & Chang Pan & Fengying Xu, 2024. "The Spatial Structure and Influencing Factors of the Tourism Economic Network in the Yangtze River Delta Urban Agglomeration," Tourism and Hospitality, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-20, February.
    5. V. I. Blanutsa, 2022. "Geographic Research of the Platform Economy: Existing and Potential Approaches," Regional Research of Russia, Springer, vol. 12(2), pages 133-142, June.
    6. Ren, Xiaohang & Zeng, Gudian & Dong, Kangyin & Wang, Kun, 2023. "How does high-speed rail affect tourism development? The case of the Sichuan-Chongqing Economic Circle," Transportation Research Part A: Policy and Practice, Elsevier, vol. 169(C).
    7. Wei Wei & Yuting Chai & Fangzhou Li & Tao Li, 2025. "Impact of high-speed rail on spatio-temporal evolution of tourism interaction and structure of cities," Humanities and Social Sciences Communications, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 12(1), pages 1-14, December.
    8. Mariano Gallo & Rosa Anna La Rocca, 2022. "The Impact of High-Speed Rail Systems on Tourist Attractiveness in Italy: Regression Models and Numerical Results," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-33, October.
    9. Adediran, Idris A. & Swaray, Raymond, 2023. "Carbon trading amidst global uncertainty: The role of policy and geopolitical uncertainty," Economic Modelling, Elsevier, vol. 123(C).
    10. Kang, Meiling & Li, Yucheng & Zhao, Zhongkuang & Song, Min & Yi, Jun, 2023. "Travel costs and inter-city collaborative innovation: Evidence of high-speed railway in China," Structural Change and Economic Dynamics, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 286-302.
    11. Hongjia Fang & Ji Chai & Zhanqi Wang & Rou Zhang & Chao Huang & Meiling Luo, 2024. "Exploring the Spatial Correlation Network and Its Formation Mechanisms in Urban Land Use Performance: A Case Study of the Yangtze River Economic Belt," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-21, July.
    12. Ling-Ling Fan & Ya-Lan Shi & Xiao-Yan Wang, 2025. "Spatial Network Structure and Influencing Factors of the Urban Tourism Economy in China: An Empirical Study Based on 284 Prefecture-Level Cities," SAGE Open, , vol. 15(4), pages 21582440251, December.
    13. Sunny Sun & Lina Zhong & Rob Law & Xiaoya Zhang & Liyu Yang & Meiling Li, 2022. "A Proposed DISE Approach for Tourist Destination Crisis Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(17), pages 1-16, September.
    14. Muneer M. Alshater & Rim El Khoury & Marah Ferdous & Indri Supriani, 2026. "Reward-based crowdfunding: A hybrid review of trends, opportunities, and future research directions," Financial Innovation, Springer;Southwestern University of Finance and Economics, vol. 12(1), pages 1-64, December.
    15. Francesca Pagliara & Filomena Mauriello & Yin Ping, 2021. "Analyzing the Impact of High-Speed Rail on Tourism with Parametric and Non-Parametric Methods: The Case Study of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-10, March.
    16. Douglas S. Noonan & Shiri M. Breznitz & Sana Maqbool, 2021. "Looking for a change in scene: analyzing the mobility of crowdfunding entrepreneurs," Small Business Economics, Springer, vol. 57(2), pages 685-703, August.
    17. Hu, Jianwei & Hua, Xiuping & Li, Haolin & Boateng, Agyenim, 2025. "Home region orientation, international intensity, and funding performance of international crowdfunding projects," Technovation, Elsevier, vol. 140(C).
    18. Konow, James & Kühl, Leonie & Szech, Nora, 2026. "The kindness of strangers: Theory and evidence on spatial distance and giving," European Economic Review, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    19. Cordelia Onyinyechi Omodero, 2024. "Social Factors Associated with Insecurity in Nigerian Society," Societies, MDPI, vol. 14(6), pages 1-13, May.
    20. Maymoni, Liran & Solodoha, Eliran, 2025. "Crowdfunding beyond borders: Geographic disparities in crowdfunding success," Journal of Business Venturing Insights, Elsevier, vol. 23(C).

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:13:y:2024:i:10:p:1691-:d:1499990. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager The email address of this maintainer does not seem to be valid anymore. Please ask MDPI Indexing Manager to update the entry or send us the correct address (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.