Evaluating provincial tourism competitiveness in China: an empirical application based on the EM-MGM-SNA model.

The spatial correlation structure of provincial tourism economy development is an important factor to promote the overall tourism economy. This paper aims to construct the methodology of provincial tourism competitiveness evaluation system from the new perspective of networking. Firstly, by utilizing the panel data of 30 provinces from 2006 to 2019, the entropy method was developed to calculate the provincial tourism competitiveness. Then, the gravity model was introduced to the Social Network Analysis, and spatial correlation network and its characteristics of tourism competitiveness evaluation were elaborated. This paper reveals the spatial–temporal network evolution process of regional tourism competitiveness in China. Additionally, it provides a scientific basis for obtaining a deeper understanding of China's provincial tourism competitiveness and a theoretical basis for the government to formulate the future direction and differentiation policy of provincial tourism competitiveness. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]