Coupling and Coordinating Relationship between Tourism Economy and Ecological Environment—A Case Study of Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

Yiming Liu,Sunhee Suk

doi:10.3390/ijerph182312818

Abstract

The tourism environment is the basis of sustainable development in the tourism economy. Exploring the coupling relationship between tourism economy and ecological environment systems can promote not only ecology-based tourism, but also contribute to the sustainable development of tourism economy. Based on data from Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, from 2010–2019, this paper aims to introduce an indicator system and develop an integrated approach to assess the coupling and coordination between the tourism economy and the environment. The indicator system consists of two levels, six aspects, and eighteen indicators, based on entropy method. A Pressure-State-Response (PSR) model framework of the coupling and coordination mechanism of tourism economy and ecological environment was constructed based on the development status of Nagasaki Prefecture in Japan. Then, the degree of coupled coordination of its tourism economy and ecological environment is evaluated, providing a comprehensive evaluation index of the system. In conclusion, suggestions for promoting the sustainable development of tourism and environment in Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, are proposed. The purpose of this research is to reveal dynamic trends that exist between the coupled development of tourism economy and the ecological environment. A further aim of this paper is to provide a reference for macro policy formulation in small and medium-sized cities regarding the sustainable development of the tourism economic system and ecological environment system.

Highlights

As a resource and environment-dependent industry, tourism is inextricably linked with the environment
The excessive pursuit of economic benefits will lead to a deteriorated ecological environment, which in turn will affect the sustainability of the economic development of tourism
The study of coupled and coordinated development of tourism and environmental ecology has become a hotspot for academic research

Summary

Introduction

As a resource and environment-dependent industry, tourism is inextricably linked with the environment. A healthy ecological environment is the guarantee and source of development of the tourism economy, which in turn will promote further improvement of the ecological environment. The study of coupled and coordinated development of tourism and environmental ecology has become a hotspot for academic research. This has important theoretical and guiding values. Researchers have studied the relationship between the environment and tourism as far back as 1920 [1]. The development of tourism has since led to adverse effects on ecology and the environment, researchers have begun to focus on the impacts of tourism on the ecological environment [4,5,6]. In the 21st century, as research continues to deepen, research on the relationship between ecological environment and tourism has grad-

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Results

Conclusion