Spatial network structure of the tourism economy in urban agglomeration: A social network analysis

Despite extensive and active research on network structures in tourist destinations, literature on the spatial network structure of the tourism economy in urban agglomeration is limited. Taking Urban Agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River (UAMRYR) as the case study, this study aims to examine the characteristics associated with the spatial network structure of the tourism economy by adopting the tourism economic gravity model and social network analysis (SNA). The main conclusions are as follows. The spatial network structure of the tourism economy in UAMRYR was loose, with limited adequate tourism economic connections and collaboration among various plates. As the three core cities, Wuhan, Changsha, and Nanchang not only had more tourism economic connections among other cities but also acted as an intermediary and a bridge between the spatial network structure of the tourism economy. To sum up, the findings of this study could be applied to formulate scientific policies to promote spatial integration and tourism economic cooperation in urban agglomerations.