The impact of regional integration on tourism economy: empirical evidence from urban agglomeration in China

This study takes the construction of 11 national-level urban agglomerations in China as a quasi-natural experiment to examine the impact of regional integration on the tourism economy. It employs a multi-period difference-in-differences (DID) model to empirically analyse the association between urban agglomeration construction and the tourism economy. The findings indicate that: (1) Urban agglomeration construction has a significant stimulating effect on the tourism economy. Specifically, this effect is more pronounced in the southern and eastern regions than in the northern, central, and western regions. Furthermore, the stimulating effect of such construction on the tourism economy is stronger in tourist cities than in non-tourist cities, and the effect is particularly prominent in core cities. (2) Urban agglomeration construction boosts the tourism economy by improving marketisation levels and promoting urban-rural coordination. (3) The digital economy positively moderates the relationship between urban agglomeration development and tourism economic growth.This research not only reveals the underlying mechanisms through which urban agglomeration development impacts the tourism economy, but also provides valuable references for policymakers on how to more effectively promote urban agglomeration development and stimulate tourism economic growth.