Research on the influencing factors and configurational pathways of the integration effectiveness of health and wellness and sports industries in China’s UNESCO Global Geoparks: a dynamic QCA analysis based on panel data

The integration of health and wellness with sports industries is of profound significance for the sustainable development of UNESCO Global Geoparks. It serves not only as a key pathway to activate the value of geological resources but also as an important vehicle for advancing the "Healthy China" strategy. This study selects 18 representative UNESCO Global Geoparks in China as cases. Using municipal panel data from 2020 to 2024, it employs a coupling coordination degree model to assess the level of integration between the health and wellness and sports industries, and applies a dynamic Qualitative Comparative Analysis (QCA) method to explore the configurational pathways influencing integration effectiveness under different temporal contexts. The findings reveal that none of the six conditional variables alone constitutes a sufficient condition for achieving a high level of integration between the health and wellness and sports industries. However, the four identified configurational pathways remained stable overall, with no significant temporal effect, yet their specific performance evolved dynamically over time. Accordingly, recommendations are proposed to promote the integration of these industries in Global Geoparks through measures such as strengthening talent reserves, improving infrastructure, developing context-adapted product matrices, enhancing policy coordination, and establishing smart health platforms.