Research on the Spatial-Temporal Evolution and Driving Mechanism of Coupling Coordination among Digital-Tourism-Environment in the Yellow River Basin

The digital economy, the tourism industry, and ecological protection are closely related, which holds paramount significance for regional sustainable development. Based on panel data from 2011 to 2021 in the Yellow River Basin, the study scrutinizes the spatial and temporal variances and driving factors of the three-system coupling coordination degree. The results indicate that: (1) The development level of the three systems is significantly different. The coupling coordination degree shifts from imminent imbalance to marginal coordination, but there is a noticeable expansion in spatial disparities. (2) The coupling coordination degree of non-resource cities significantly surpasses that of resource cities, and regenerative cities outperform growing, mature, and declining cities. The overall pattern of the provincial capital cities "center-periphery", decreased the coordination characteristics. The spatial correlation of coupling coordination degree presents two aggregation patterns of "high-high" and "low-low", and the overall correlation gradually weakens. (3) The driving factors reveal that the economic driving force is the largest, followed by the internal driving force, and the government regulatory force and scientific and technological driving force are relatively weak. Consequently, this paper proposes to strengthen the integration and penetration function of the digital economy and have it play the linkage role between regions. This lays down a solid foundation for crafting scientifically informed policies aimed at achieving regional sustainable development.