Configuring the Pattern of Sustainable Tourism Development as Affected by the Construction of a High-Speed Railway System

Abstract

This study highlights the role of a high-speed railway system in driving the tourism industry, as the tourism market prepares to achieve sustainable development after the COVID-19 pandemic. Considering the example of southwestern China, this study summarizes the configuration patterns of sustainable tourism development based on the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis method, and subsequently uses the gravity model to express its core factor based on the ArcGIS platform. The study found that the tourism development pattern in this area was not homogenous, but rather a combination of six equivalent patterns (namely configured pattern). Tourism Economic Connection was the core variable to promote tourism development. Therefore, based on the configurational theory, each city should determine its own pattern and accordingly develop strengths as well as complement weaknesses. Furthermore, determined by the complexity theory, cities should capitalize on the strength of the high-speed railway system and learn from the accomplishments realized in other cities.