Characterizing Spatial-Temporal Variation of Cultural Tourism Internet Attention in Western Triangle Economic Zone, China

Abstract

More and more tourists tend to seek cultural enjoyment while taking trips based on their satisfied socio-economic needs. The spatiality of cultural tourism determines the feasibility and convenience of the access to cultural tourism resources. Given that spatial research on cultural tourism rarely involves the underdeveloped regions in China, especially via Baidu Index data, this study aims to explore the dynamic spatial pattern of cultural tourism Internet attention based on Baidu Index through social network analysis (i.e., network density, centrality analysis, core–periphery model, etc.) in the Western Triangle Economic Zone (WTEZ), China. Research findings are as follows. (1) Temporally, the centrality is increasingly enhanced in terms of the core cities with high cultural tourism Internet attention, as well as their radiation effect. (2) Spatially, the distribution pattern of cultural tourism Internet attention is shifting from polarization to equilibrium. However, the overall network density still presents a mode of loose connection and fails to extend from the core triangle structure in the planar dimension. (3) The cultural tourism Internet attention in WTEZ presents an obvious core–periphery pattern. Xi’an–Chengdu–Chongqing is in a dominant position, and the core area spreads from south to north. (4) The spatial-temporal pattern of cultural tourism Internet attention in WTEZ is influenced by transportation, reception facilities, consumption ability, and political environment, and the main driving factors are the number of hotels, per capita income, total highway mileage, and cultural tourism policy indicators. This study is conducive to sustainable spatial planning of cultural tourism through smart data governance.