Assessment of Synergistic Development Potential between Tourism and Rural Restructuring Using a Coupling Analysis: A Case Study of Southern Shaanxi, China

Tourism plays an important role in rural restructuring, especially in mountainous areas. Mismatches between tourism and rural in terms of the development level and efficiency have given rise to a variety of challenges. In order to achieve the orderly growth of tourism and sustainable rural restructuring, there is an urgent need to explore the interaction between the two. Thus, we introduce the concept of synergistic development potential (SDP) and construct an assessment framework using coupling analysis. Southern Shaanxi, in the Qin-Ba mountainous area, a Chinese region rich in ecological tourism resources, was selected as a case study to evaluate the SDP during the period 2013 to 2018. In our framework, a comprehensive index system with 21 indicators was developed to evaluate the tourism development levels (TDL) and rural development levels (RDL) in 2013 and 2018, and the tourism development efficiency (TDE) and rural restructuring efficiency (RRE) during this period. Secondly, correlations between TDL and RDL, as well as correlations between TDE and RDE, were quantified using the coupling coordination degree model (CCDM). Finally, the SDP evaluation model was constructed through combing the coupling coordination degrees of current development levels and development efficiencies. The case study results indicate that the primary-level coordination counties are both dominated in this region in terms of the relationship of development levels as well as the development efficiencies. Additionally, the SDP results show a significant difference in 25 counties, with 36% of them having low potential, 48% having medium potential, and 16% having high potential. This study could intuitively show the development differences among various units and provide theoretical and methodological support for the rural tourism zoning strategies.