TOURISM SCIENCE ›› 2026, Vol. 40 ›› Issue (4): 37-60.

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Research on the Measurement and Coupling Coordination Path of Culture and Tourism Development and Urban-Rural Integration Level in Rural Areas of the County Territory: A Case Study of Yangshuo County

ZHU Yifan1, SUN Jiuxia1,2,3,*   

  1. 1. School of Tourism Management, Sun Yat-sen University, Zhuhai 519082, China;
    2. Center for Leisure, Tourism and Social Development, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China;
    3. Key Laboratory of Greater Bay Area Humanities Community, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510275, China
  • Received:2024-07-10 Revised:2025-03-05 Online:2026-04-30 Published:2026-07-10

Abstract: Against the backdrop of rural revitalization, cultural and tourism development has become an important pathway for promoting urban-rural integration, while urban-rural integration also creates conditions for rural cultural tourism development. Taking 105 villages and communities in Yangshuo County, Guilin City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region as the research area, this study constructs evaluation index systems for rural cultural and tourism development and urban-rural integration within the county, and employs the coupling coordination degree model and spatial correlation analysis to examine their coupling coordination relationship and spatial clustering characteristics. It further applies fsQCA to identify the configurational pathways leading to coordinated development. Results reveal that: (1) rural cultural and tourism development in Yangshuo County presents significant spatial differentiation, with a clear core-periphery structure and uneven distribution, while urban-rural integration is relatively balanced, showing a pattern of "overall dispersion with local concentration"; (2) the coupling degree between the two systems is generally at an intermediate coordination stage, whereas the coordinated development degree remains in a stage of mild maladjustment. This indicates that the overall level of coordinated development is relatively low and characterized by pronounced polarization and significant regional disparities. Spatial analysis further reveals evident clustering in the coordinated development degree; (3) the configurational pathways for coordinated development can be classified into three types: scale-driven, resource-driven, and benefit-driven. These findings demonstrate the feasibility of using the village scale as a basic spatial unit for implementing and evaluating cultural tourism and urban-rural integration policies, and provide practical guidance for differentiated rural revitalization strategies at the county level.

Key words: rural areas of the county territory, culture and tourism development, urban-rural integration, fsQCA, Yangshuo county

CLC Number: 

  • F592

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