Exploring the Influence of Regional Knowledge Dynamics on the Competitiveness of Tourism in China’s Provinces

This paper examines the competitiveness of tourism in China’s provinces from 2001 to 2017, using Porter’s Diamond Model. It analyzes 31 Chinese provinces, excluding Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan, using province panel data and time series global principal component analysis. The study employs ArcMap software for spatial visualization and analysis, enabling a comprehensive understanding of provincial competitiveness and the development of targeted enhancement strategies. Key findings demonstrate a distinct spatial pattern: higher tourism competitiveness in southeastern provinces compared to the northwest. This “rugby ball”-shaped distribution evolves, indicating changes in provincial competitiveness. The study reveals that Internet development notably enhances competitiveness, with regional heterogeneity and a double threshold effect across eastern, central, and western regions. Other critical factors include urbanization, strategic industrial structures, and innovation focus, highlighting the importance of diverse industrial landscapes and technology in tourism destination development. These insights offer valuable guidance for policymakers, industry stakeholders, and researchers, contributing to sustainable and competitive tourism development strategies. The findings underscore the role of knowledge dynamics in shaping regional tourism competitiveness, providing a multidimensional perspective for future research and strategic planning in the tourism sector.