Evaluation and Spatial Characteristics of Cooperation among Tourist Attractions Based on a Geographic Information System: A Case Study of The Yangtze River Delta Region, China

With the development of global economic integration and the gradual formation of unified tourism markets, strengthening regional tourism cooperation has become an internal requirement of regional tourism development but also a new way of sustainably developing tourism. This study selected the key factors affecting the cooperation of tourist attractions, including the competitiveness of tourist attractions and the relationships among tourist attractions, and established an evaluation index system and mathematical model of tourist attractions' cooperation. Furthermore, the level of cooperation was evaluated. According to the value of the cooperation level, the spatial characteristics of the cooperation level were analyzed using a geographic information systems analytical method, which can better reflect the competitiveness, relationships, and overall cooperation level of tourist attractions. The results showed that the tourism competitiveness of tourist attractions was generally strong and their internal relations relatively close, and the overall tourism cooperation level was high. However, a two-dimensional four-quadrant map revealed that there were still great differences in tourism competitiveness among tourist attractions and their internal relations. Twenty-three tourist attractions exhibited weak tourism competitiveness and sparse relationships with other tourist attractions. The tourism competitiveness of tourist attractions and their internal relations and tourism cooperation level showed positive spatial autocorrelation and spatial agglomeration characteristics. The spatial differentiation of an "inverted U-shape" indicated that the cooperation level, tourism competitiveness, and mutual relations of tourist attractions were not balanced and that a stable and gradual spatial transformation had not been achieved. This study can provide valuable insights for the government to formulate policies and measures for regional tourism cooperation, carry out regional joint marketing, and help tourism enterprises design tourist routes.