Research on the Coupling and Coordinated Development of the Tourism Industry and Regional Economy in the Economic Circle of the Sichuan–Chongqing Region in Southwest China

Abstract

The construction of the Sichuan–Chongqing double-city economic circle represents a critical measure for high-quality development in China. The coordinated development of industry and economy is conducive to high-quality regional economic growth and the construction of a high-standard market system. This study selects 19 data indexes of the tourism industry and regional economy in the Sichuan–Chongqing region from 2000 to 2020 and analyzes the coupling coordination degree of them through a coupling coordination model. Such being the case, the gray correlation analysis method is used to explore the key factors affecting the coupling difference. It is found that the comprehensive development index of the tourism industry system and regional economic system of the Sichuan–Chongqing region witnesses a steady growth, but the overall performance of the regional economic system lags behind that of the tourism industry system. From the perspective of coupling coordination degree, the coupling coordination between the tourism industry and regional economy in the Sichuan–Chongqing region is increasingly strengthened, with the whole system being in the stage of running-in and high-level coupling. It has achieved the leap from unbalanced development to well-coordinated development. From the perspective of gray correlation analysis, the per capita consumption level of residents and regional GDP are the key factors affecting the coupling and coordination differences of the Sichuan–Chongqing circle.