The Spatial Network Structure of Tourism Efficiency and Its Influencing Factors in China: A Social Network Analysis

Abstract

Although tourism has gradually become a popular form of leisure and entertainment in China, the quality of China’s tourism development remains unclear. Through the panel data of 30 provinces in China, an SBM-DEA model and a social network analysis are used to explore the quality of tourism development, and a spatial econometric regression is used to identify the relevant factors affecting tourism efficiency. The study found that the level of tourism efficiency in Southwest China is high and stable. The northwest region has a low level of tourism efficiency, but a slow growth trend. The rest of the regions show fluctuating trends of tourism efficiencies. The spatial correlation network of provincial tourism efficiency is gradually complicated. Regarding influencing factors, the number of patents granted, traffic levels, financial development, and government macro-control all have positive effects on tourism efficiency. The study uncovered some useful management insights and implications for the travel industry.