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Comparative Analysis of Coupled Coordination Between Tourism Urbanization and Ecological Environment: Evidence from Tourism and Non-Tourism Coastal Cities in China

Author

Listed:
  • Runing Chen

    (Management College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266005, China)

  • Tongyan Zhang

    (Management College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266005, China)

  • Shengrui Zhang

    (Management College, Ocean University of China, Qingdao 266005, China)

Abstract

This study aims to explore the coupled and coordinated development of tourism urbanization and the ecological environment in China’s coastal cities. By constructing an index system for tourism urbanization and the ecological environment, this research evaluates the spatiotemporal characteristics of tourism urbanization and ecological environment changes, as well as their coupling and coordination levels in China’s coastal cities from 2010 to 2019. The results are as follows: (1) From 2010 to 2019, the level of tourism urbanization, ecological environment conditions, and the degree of coupling and coordination in China’s coastal tourism cities were all superior to those in non-tourism cities. (2) During the period from 2010 to 2019, the level of tourism urbanization in coastal cities showed an upward trend, the ecological environment exhibited significant fluctuations, and the overall level of coupling and coordination showed an increasing trend. (3) Overall, there is a clear gradient difference in both the comprehensive index of tourism urbanization and the ecological environment index, which has created a disparity in the levels of coupling and coordination between the tourism urbanization and ecological environment of different cities. Most cities are at a stage where tourism urbanization is lagging, and the coupling and coordination level of some large cities is constrained by the ecological environment. Different cities need to develop differentiated development strategies based on their characteristics to promote the sustainable development of coastal tourism cities.

Suggested Citation

  • Runing Chen & Tongyan Zhang & Shengrui Zhang, 2025. "Comparative Analysis of Coupled Coordination Between Tourism Urbanization and Ecological Environment: Evidence from Tourism and Non-Tourism Coastal Cities in China," Land, MDPI, vol. 14(4), pages 1-25, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jlands:v:14:y:2025:i:4:p:841-:d:1633257
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Xia Xie & Hui Sun & Jun Gao & Feifei Chen & Chunshan Zhou, 2021. "Spatiotemporal Differentiation of Coupling and Coordination Relationship of Tourism–Urbanization–Ecological Environment System in China’s Major Tourist Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, May.
    2. Wang, Jieyu & Wang, Shaojian & Li, Shijie & Feng, Kuishuang, 2019. "Coupling analysis of urbanization and energy-environment efficiency: Evidence from Guangdong province," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 254(C).
    3. Junsheng Liu & Cui Li & Jinqing Tao & Yaofeng Ma & Xiaojin Wen, 2019. "Spatiotemporal Coupling Factors and Mode of Tourism Industry, Urbanization and Ecological Environment: A Case Study of Shaanxi, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(18), pages 1-22, September.
    4. Lei Tian & Fengzhi Sun & Zongbin Zhang & Shuxian Zhang, 2024. "Coupling coordination and driving mechanism of tourism industry, urbanization, and ecological environment: a case study of Shandong, China," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(11), pages 28367-28388, November.
    5. Yingshi Shang & Shuguang Liu, 2021. "Spatial-Temporal Coupling Coordination Relationship between Urbanization and Green Development in the Coastal Cities of China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-20, May.
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