Spatial Differentiation and Service-Driven Mechanisms of County-Level Tourism Efficiency in Fujian Province, China

Efficiency is a key indicator for evaluating how effectively tourism inputs are converted into outputs. Clarifying the spatial differentiation and driving mechanisms of county-level tourism efficiency can inform regional tourism development and the optimization of resource allocation. Taking counties in Fujian Province, excluding Jinmen County, as the basic unit of analysis, this study constructs a multidimensional input–output indicator system covering tourism, dining, accommodation, transportation, shopping, and entertainment. It applies Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to measure county-level tourism efficiency, uses Global Moran’s I and Getis-Ord Gi* hotspot analysis to identify spatial differentiation patterns, and employs GeoDetector to examine key driving factors and their interaction effects. The results show that the average tourism efficiency of county-level units in Fujian is 0.708, indicating a moderate overall level with marked regional polarization. Technical efficiency is relatively high, with an average of 0.873, whereas disparities in scale efficiency represent the main constraint on overall efficiency. Spatially, tourism efficiency displays a pattern of “hot in the north and cold in the south”. Interaction analysis further indicates a shift from resource dependence to service value-added, with dining, entertainment, and shopping exerting stronger effects than tourism resources alone. These findings provide empirical support for optimizing tourism spatial supply and promoting coordinated regional development.