The impact mechanism of tourismfication on urban-rural integration development in the Wuling Mountain area

Based on the panel data of 48 districts and counties in the Wuling Mountainou area, the dual machine learning method mediation model and moderation model were employed to investigate the impact mechanism of tourismfication on urban-rural integration development. The results showed that: (1) Both the levels of the tourismfication and urban-rural integration development in the Wuling Mountain area showed an upward trend. The spatial differences in tourismfication gradually increased, while the spatial distribution pattern of the level of urban-rural integration development was relatively stable. (2) Tourismfication had a positive promoting effect on urban-rural integration development, mainly reflected in the positive impact on the urban-rural "industry" elements integration. However, due to the differences in ownership under the dual urban-rural land system, there was a negative impact on the urban-rural "land" elements integration, and there was no significant impact on the urban-rural "people" elements integration. (3) The construction of digital infrastructure and the upgrading of industrial structure were important paths through which tourismfication affects the urban-rural integration development. Marketization could positively regulate the relationship between tourismfication and the urban-rural integration development, while government intervention presented a negative regulatory effect. (4) The impact of tourismfication on the urban-rural integration development showed significant spatial heterogeneity. On the one hand, districts, cities and counties where high-speed railways had been opened, former national key poverty alleviation counties and national all-for-one tourism demonstration areas all exhibited relatively strong positive impacts. On the other hand, the positive impact effected in the sub-areas of Chongqing, Hubei and Guizhou weakened successively, and the sub-area of Hunan showed an insignificant positive effect.