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Arid Land Geography ›› 2026, Vol. 49 ›› Issue (2): 245-254.doi: 10.12118/j.issn.1000-6060.2024.772

• New Quality Productive Forces Driving High-Quality Development of Tourism • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Evolution characteristics and influencing factors of tourism ecological security in the Yellow River Basin: Based on social network analysis

WEI Lirong1(), CHENG Zhanhong1(), SHI Ye2, ZHANG Yuyao2, WANG Ziyan1, NIU Liqin2   

  1. 1. College of Cultural Tourism and Journalism and Art, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
    2. College of Resources and Environment, Shanxi University of Finance and Economics, Taiyuan 030006, Shanxi, China
  • Received:2024-12-17 Revised:2025-02-16 Online:2026-02-25 Published:2026-02-27
  • Contact: CHENG Zhanhong E-mail:wlr2297091258@163.com;chengzhanhong@163.com

Abstract:

A thorough analysis of the spatial correlation network structure and influencing factors of tourism ecological security in the Yellow River Basin is essential for balancing economic benefits with ecological constraints and promoting regional sustainable development. Using inter-provincial panel data from the Yellow River Basin spanning 2009 to 2022, this study employed the entropy method, a modified gravity model, social network analysis, and quadratic assignment procedure (QAP) regression to examine the spatial correlation network of tourism ecological security and identify key influencing factors. The results reveal the following: (1) Tourism ecological security across the basin’s nine provinces exhibits significant cross-administrative characteristics, with inter-regional dependence steadily increasing. (2) The network displays pronounced spatial heterogeneity; the absence of dominant core nodes results in insufficient agglomeration effects and limited linkage development. (3) Differences in provincial plate ownership determine distinct roles and positions within the spatial correlation network. (4) Regional GDP, per capita tourism consumption, tertiary industry added value, wastewater discharge, and solid waste utilization rate emerge as the primary influencing factors. From a social network analysis perspective, this study elucidates the overall and local characteristics of the tourism ecological security spatial network in the Yellow River Basin and identifies critical drivers. These findings offer a novel theoretical framework to support the sustainable and healthy development of the region.

Key words: tourism ecological security, social network analysis, influencing factor, the Yellow River Basin