Efficiency Evaluation and Influencing Factors of Sports Industry and Tourism Industry Convergence Based on China’s Provincial Data

Abstract

As sunrise industries, green industries and happiness industries, the sports industry and the tourism industry have natural convergence, and the convergence of the sports and tourism industries is not only a new strategic support point for the sustainable development of the two industries but also an important way to drive healthy and sustainable development of related industries. We measure the efficiency of sports–tourism convergence in 31 provinces (municipalities and autonomous regions) in China from 2013 to 2019 using the benevolent cross-efficiency DEA model and the qualitative comparative analysis (fsQCA) method and conduct a configuration analysis of the influencing factors. The research indicates: (1) the efficiency of the development of sports–tourism convergence is low and its role in the sustainable development of the tourism and sports industries needs to be improved. (2) The efficiency of sports–tourism convergence shows spatial distribution characteristics of decreasing efficiency in the eastern region–central region–western region. (3) Industrial structure, transportation conditions, openness to the outside world, political support and their combination are the core driving factors affecting integration of sports and tourism.