A study on the driving effects of intelligent MICE tourism on regional economic development

This study investigates the driving effects of Intelligent MICE tourism on regional economic development, with Guizhou Province as the research focus. Using tourism economic data from 2009 to 2019, combined with geographic information analysis and an input-output model, we examine the spatiotemporal evolution of Guizhou’s tourism industry and its impact on regional economic growth. The results indicate that after 2016, Guizhou’s total tourism revenue and visitor numbers entered a phase of rapid expansion, with annual growth rates averaging 36.96% and 32.15%, respectively. Spatial analysis reveals that tourism revenue distribution across county-level administrative divisions follows a diffusion pattern, expanding from core cities such as Guiyang and Zunyi to surrounding areas. Furthermore, an analysis of industrial structure indicates that Guizhou’s economy is primarily driven by the secondary and tertiary sectors, with the tourism industry’s backward linkages within the industrial chain strengthening over time, positioning it as a key catalyst for growth in related industries. Model validation results demonstrate that both the influence and sensitivity coefficients of the tourism industry significantly exceed the national economic average, underscoring its substantial stimulative effect on regional economic expansion. Geographic detector analysis further reveals that policy regulation, advancements in information technology, and regional industrial structures play a critical role in the coupled and coordinated development of the tourism economy and the broader regional economy. Based on these findings, this study proposes policy recommendations to optimize Guizhou’s tourism industry structure, enhance tourism service infrastructure, and promote integrated regional development. By integrating spatiotemporal pattern analysis with industrial chain effect evaluation, this study highlights tourism’s core role in regional economic development and quantitatively assesses its contribution from a geographical perspective.