Abstract:
Big data helps to reveal the migration patterns and spatial characteristics of tourists in the destination area in detail. Northwest China is the main destination region of Chinas “Silk Road”. Based on extensive travel route data obtained from online booking platforms, this paper employs social network analysis to study the network and spatial characteristics of tourist flows and connections between destinations in Northwest China. It aims to uncover regional community structures and analyze the factors influencing touring route. The results indicate that the tourist flow network in Northwest China is loose and unbalanced, with distinct core and peripheral areas. The peripheral areas are mainly located in western Xinjiang, most of Shaanxi, and southern Gansu, while the core areas are mainly distributed in Hexi Corridor. In Northwest China, a small number of nodes possess absolute network power, demonstrating clear hierarchical levels. Nodes at all levels are highly dependent on core nodes such as Lanzhou, Xian, and Urumqi. The Northwest tourism network is composed of 3 secondary communities and 8 tertiary communities around the core nodes. These communities demonstrate strong regional proximity and administrative regionalism within their internal structures. Tourism flow in Northwest China is influenced by various factors, including the tourism resources endowment, tourism reception capacity, regional economic levels, transportation infrastructure, and more. Finally, taking into consideration the characteristics of the Northwest China tourist flow network and the factors influencing it, this paper offers relevant recommendations for tourism enhancement and regional development.
