Abstract:

The cultural tourism industry， as a pillar industry to promote the construction of the Yellow River Cultural Tourism Belt， provides driving support for the implementation of major regional strategies for ecological protection and high-quality development in the Yellow River Basin. By measuring the development level of cultural tourism industry in 57 municipal units in the Yellow River Basin， this study explores the spatiotemporal evolution characteristics and formation mechanism of the spatial correlation network of the Yellow River cultural tourism belt from 2008 to 2023 using the modified gravity model and social network analysis method. The results indicate that： （1） There are significant differences in the development level of cultural tourism industry in cities along the Yellow River， forming a "Matthew effect" pattern of sustained strengthening in high-level areas and weak growth in low-level areas. （2） The network pattern shows a periodic evolution pattern， with strong connections between provincial capitals and surrounding cities， weak inter provincial connections， and limited overall external radiation capabilities. （3） The upper and middle reaches of the Yellow River exhibit a partially interactive development model of "core leadership， radiation driven"， while the lower reaches exhibit a direct transmission development model of "close internal connections and weak external connections". （4） The spatial correlation network of the Yellow River Cultural Tourism Belt is influenced by supply and demand coordination， industrial cooperation， and intra city transmission mechanisms， with intra city transmission being the most significant.

Key words: cultural tourism industry, spatial correlation network, social network analysis, formation mechanism, Yellow River Cultural Tourism Belt