Mapping the resilience of tourist city: spatial correlation and elasticity of tourism resource value

Abstract This paper innovatively constructs an integrated analytical framework to examine the relationship between Tourism Resource Value (TRV) and Tourist City Resilience (TCR), exploring the dynamic interplay between TRV conversion mechanisms and TCR systems. Through empirical analysis of two contrasting cases - coastal Penglai and mountainous Qimen—we employ a TRV evaluation system based on “quantity, quality, diversity” dimensions and a TCR assessment model encompassing “economic, social, cultural, ecological” aspects. Key findings reveal: (i) Distinct spatial conversion patterns emerge, with coastal cities demonstrating quality-driven TRV development versus mountainous cities’ scale-driven approaches, showing significant spatial correlation where effective TRV conversion positively contributes to TCR enhancement. (ii) The spatial extensibility of the TRV cluster provides an elastic space for its conversion. Through the dual spillover effects of spatial expansion and value driving, the TCR can be enhanced. (iii) Tourist cities manifest notable economic-ecological tension, where “intensity regulation, spatial optimization, institutional innovation” strategies enable the transition from conflict to synergy in resilience development. These findings provide novel insights for managing urban resilience and formulating risk mitigation strategies in tourism-oriented cities.