Study on the spatiotemporal coupling relationship between tourism efficiency and ecological environment and its influencing factors: a case study of Qilian Mountain National Park, China

The rational protection of national parks is a crucial measure for promoting the harmonious coexistence of humans and nature. This paper develops a coupled and coordinated evaluation index system for tourism efficiency and the ecological environment. By employing exploratory spatiotemporal data analysis (ESTDA), the coupled coordination degree model, and spatial econometric models, this study reveals the dynamic evolution and coupled-coordinated relationship between tourism efficiency and the ecological environment in Qilian Mountain National Park from 2000 to 2021. Additionally, it examines the factors influencing the coordinated development of these two aspects. The study found that: The overall average comprehensive efficiency of tourism exhibits a distribution pattern characterized by higher values in the northeast and lower values in the south. The mean scale efficiency is greater than the mean technical efficiency. The dependency direction of the local spatial structure of tourism efficiency and ecological environment is relatively stable. Local spatial structures are influenced by neighboring units but are more significantly impacted by their own. The coordination coupling degree of the two systems shows an upward trend, with poorly coordinated areas gradually improving through friction, ultimately transitioning from dysfunction to coordination. Economic dynamics and industrial structure are key factors in promoting the increasing degree of coupling coordination. Regions within Qilian Mountains National Park should adhere to the principle of categorized governance in formulating their future development plans.