Mapping China's sports tourism projects: regional imbalances, urban agglomerations, and driving forces

The spatial distribution of sports tourism projects in China exhibits significant regional disparities, creating challenges associated with efficient resource utilisation and equitable development.

In this study, we applied kernel density estimation, spatial autocorrelation analysis, and the geographic detector to examine the spatial patterns and driving factors of STPs across the country systematically.

The results reveal an uneven distribution of STPs, with the Yangtze River Delta and Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region identified as the two core areas with the highest density. Natural STPs are more widely distributed, whereas cultural STPs are primarily concentrated in economically developed regions. Factor detection reveals that economic and fiscal variables serve as dominant drivers and that the balance of deposits in financial institutions, general public budget expenditures, and tertiary industry operating income exert the greatest explanatory power, whereas transportation and environmental indicators are less influential.

These findings highlight the combined effects of natural endowments, cultural resources, and institutional support on sports tourism development. This study advances the theoretical understanding of STP spatial dynamics and provides practical insights for optimising resource allocation, narrowing regional disparities, and promoting the sustainable growth of China's sports tourism industry.