On the spatial network structure of tourism resources development and its social welfare effect in Wuling Mountain area

Clarifying the spatial network characteristics of typical mountainous tourism resources development level has important reference value for maximizing the public welfare function of tourism resources and promoting social well-being. Taking 71 counties (cities, districts) in the Wuling Mountain area from 2008 to 2022 as the research object, this study measures the development level of tourism resources and social well-being. It characterizes the spatial network characteristics of tourism resources development using the modified gravity model and social network analysis method, and analyzes its social well-being effects from the perspective of centrality using spatial econometric models. The results show that: (1) The development level of tourism resources and social well-being in the study area are increasing, with significant spatial differentiation. The former exhibits a spatial pattern of "northern protrusion, central depression, and southern stability," while the latter shows a "point-belt" pattern and tends to be polarized. (2) The spatial network of tourism resources development exhibits an imbalanced structure with "denser in the middle and looser in the surrounding areas, as well as denser in the southeast and looser in the northwest". The network connections and network density are both increasing, while network efficiency and spatial network hierarchy are gradually decreasing. (3) Centrality in the spatial network of tourism resources development has a positive direct impact and spatial spillover effect on social well-being.