The Impact of High-Speed Traffic on the Tourism Economy of Urban Agglomerations: A Joint Effect and Heterogeneous Classification

This article focuses on the impact of high-speed transportation systems formed by vehicles with speeds above 200 km/h (i.e. high-speed rail and aviation) on the tourism industry in urban agglomerations. A multi-phase DID model is used to verify the positive role of high-speed rail and aviation construction in the development of the tourism industry, and a fixed effects model is used to classify the comprehensive impact of high-speed transportation system operation on the tourism industry. The results show that there is a three stage lag of the driving effect of high-speed transportation on the tourism industry, and there is significant heterogeneity of the impact on urban agglomerations of different economic levels. Specifically, 19 urban agglomerations can be divided into six bilateral impact types, five unilateral high-speed rail impact types, five unilateral civil aviation impact types, and three bilateral no impact types. The economic development and policy factors that form this phenomenon are summarized. This study provides a theoretical basis and guiding significance for the planning and construction of urban agglomerations in China, the coordinated construction of urban high-speed rail and air transportation networks, and the rapid development of the tourism industry in the future.