Empirical Study on the Sustainable Development of Mountain Tourism in the Early Stage of High-Speed Railways—Taking the Southwest Mountainous Region of China as an Example

Abstract

This study focuses on the early stage of high-speed railways (HSRs) and corrects problems in a timely manner and integrates the direction for tourism development. Its aim is to realize the sustainable development of mountain tourism in the southwest region of China. Based on the panel data from 2010 to 2019 of 39 cities in Guizhou, Guangxi, and Yunnan provinces, which are in the southwest mountainous region of China, and using data envelope analyses, the Malmquist productivity index, the Tobit model, and the intermediary effect, this study verifies the impact of core factors on the development efficiency of mountain tourism in the early stage of an HSR to find the problems existing in tourism development at present and in future stages. Results show the following: (1) In its early stage, an HSR is not yet the key factor to improve the efficiency of tourism development in the mountainous region. (2) The promotion effect of an HSR on the efficiency of tourism development is delayed. (3) In its early stage, an HSR breaks the balance of resource investment and wastes resources. (4) Taking HSRs is born out of the rigid demand of residents in the mountainous region rather than of their income levels. (5) Accessibility in mountain tourism plays a positive role between HSRs and the efficiency of tourism development.