Research on the spatial structure of desert tourism flow based on ecological digital footprints: a case study of Ningxia

Based on the analysis of tourists’ digital footprints from 2018 to 2022, this paper examines the desert tourism in the Upper Reaches of the Yellow River in Ningxia, China. By combining social network analysis and ArcGIS methods, it visually presents the spatial network structure characteristics of t...

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Main Authors: Baoling Dong, Xiaowei Guo, Qiang Luo
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Environmental Science
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1544890/full
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author Baoling Dong
Xiaowei Guo
Qiang Luo
author_facet Baoling Dong
Xiaowei Guo
Qiang Luo
author_sort Baoling Dong
collection DOAJ
description Based on the analysis of tourists’ digital footprints from 2018 to 2022, this paper examines the desert tourism in the Upper Reaches of the Yellow River in Ningxia, China. By combining social network analysis and ArcGIS methods, it visually presents the spatial network structure characteristics of tourism flow in Ningxia’s desert destinations in recent years. The results indicate that (1) the high rate of visitors in Ningxia is closely related to the grade value of the scenic spots and the popularity of cities, and the most popular scenic spots are concentrated in the Ningxia section of the Yellow River Basin. (2) Hot desert scenic spots with historical, cultural, and urban development characteristics have greater advantages and competitiveness; these spots can better connect with less popular tourism nodes and serve as breakthrough points for the rational allocation of tourism resources. (3) The tourism flow network among scenic spots in Ningxia is relatively loose, with an imbalance in the tourism network among these spots. (4) The spatial tourism flow presents a pattern of superposition and coincidence of multiple triangular structures. Among them, Zhongwei, Yinchuan, and Shizuishan are more attractive to tourists than Wuzhong and Guyuan.
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spelling doaj-art-8fa82210a2704a3fa56f41a6646478e92025-08-20T03:42:03ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Environmental Science2296-665X2025-03-011310.3389/fenvs.2025.15448901544890Research on the spatial structure of desert tourism flow based on ecological digital footprints: a case study of NingxiaBaoling Dong0Xiaowei Guo1Qiang Luo2School of International Tourism and Culture, Guizhou Normal University, Guiyang, Guizhou, ChinaAcademy of Arts, GuiZhou University of Finance and Economics, Guiyang, Guizhou, ChinaSchool of Geography and Tourism, Shaanxi Normal University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, ChinaBased on the analysis of tourists’ digital footprints from 2018 to 2022, this paper examines the desert tourism in the Upper Reaches of the Yellow River in Ningxia, China. By combining social network analysis and ArcGIS methods, it visually presents the spatial network structure characteristics of tourism flow in Ningxia’s desert destinations in recent years. The results indicate that (1) the high rate of visitors in Ningxia is closely related to the grade value of the scenic spots and the popularity of cities, and the most popular scenic spots are concentrated in the Ningxia section of the Yellow River Basin. (2) Hot desert scenic spots with historical, cultural, and urban development characteristics have greater advantages and competitiveness; these spots can better connect with less popular tourism nodes and serve as breakthrough points for the rational allocation of tourism resources. (3) The tourism flow network among scenic spots in Ningxia is relatively loose, with an imbalance in the tourism network among these spots. (4) The spatial tourism flow presents a pattern of superposition and coincidence of multiple triangular structures. Among them, Zhongwei, Yinchuan, and Shizuishan are more attractive to tourists than Wuzhong and Guyuan.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1544890/fullspatial structuredesert destinationtourism flowtourist digital footprintNingxia
spellingShingle Baoling Dong
Xiaowei Guo
Qiang Luo
Research on the spatial structure of desert tourism flow based on ecological digital footprints: a case study of Ningxia
Frontiers in Environmental Science
spatial structure
desert destination
tourism flow
tourist digital footprint
Ningxia
title Research on the spatial structure of desert tourism flow based on ecological digital footprints: a case study of Ningxia
title_full Research on the spatial structure of desert tourism flow based on ecological digital footprints: a case study of Ningxia
title_fullStr Research on the spatial structure of desert tourism flow based on ecological digital footprints: a case study of Ningxia
title_full_unstemmed Research on the spatial structure of desert tourism flow based on ecological digital footprints: a case study of Ningxia
title_short Research on the spatial structure of desert tourism flow based on ecological digital footprints: a case study of Ningxia
title_sort research on the spatial structure of desert tourism flow based on ecological digital footprints a case study of ningxia
topic spatial structure
desert destination
tourism flow
tourist digital footprint
Ningxia
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fenvs.2025.1544890/full
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AT xiaoweiguo researchonthespatialstructureofdeserttourismflowbasedonecologicaldigitalfootprintsacasestudyofningxia
AT qiangluo researchonthespatialstructureofdeserttourismflowbasedonecologicaldigitalfootprintsacasestudyofningxia