Spatial Distribution of Tourism and Its Influencing Factors in Shanxi Province

As important carriers of regional tourism resource development and cultural and tourism integration, tourist attractions not only reflect the comprehensive role of natural and human elements but also directly affect the quality of regional tourism development. As a province with a large history and culture and a demonstration area for the transformation of a resource-based economy, the spatial pattern evolution and driving mechanisms of Shanxi Province’s A-level tourist attractions have typical research value, but the existing research lacks comprehensiveness in terms of regional adaptability. On the basis of the 2020–2023 data of A-level scenic spots in Shanxi Province, this study comprehensively used the nearest neighbor index, kernel density analysis, and geographic detector methods to systematically analyze the distribution characteristics and influencing factors of A-level scenic spots in Shanxi Province. The results reveal the following: 1) Level A scenic spots in Shanxi Province exhibited a significant spatial pattern of “agglomeration at the center-scattering at the periphery”, with Taiyuan as the core forming a high-density area and radiating and diffusing to the surroundings along the main traffic axis; and 2) the spatial distribution type continued to be the agglomeration type, but the aggregation strength showed a weak trend of loosening. 3) Analysis by geographic detector revealed that the distribution of scenic spots was jointly affected by the natural environment and socioeconomic factors, with socioeconomic factors being the leading force; natural environmental factors formed the basic constraints, and the influence of the river system was relatively stable. This study aims to reveal the spatial differentiation pattern of A-level scenic spots in Shanxi Province, comprehensively consider its key elements, and provide an empirical basis for the high-quality development of cultural tourism in resource-based provinces.