Spatial distribution characteristics and influencing factors of star-level rural tourism areas in Jiangsu Province

By studying the spatial distribution patterns and influencing factors of star-rated rural tourism areas in Jiangsu Province, China, we aimed to provide a reference for the development of rural tourism. Seven hundred and twenty-six three-star and above rural tourist areas in Jiangsu Province were selected the adjacent index, geographic concentration index, density of nuclear analysis, buffer analysis, and unbalanced indices (e.g., ArcGIS spatial analysis and SPSS correlation analysis) were used to analyzed the specific types, spatial distribution patterns of and influencing factors of Jiangsu star-level rural tourist areas with the star-level of tourism resources as classficaiton standard. The results showed that 1) the star-rated rural tourism areas in Jiangsu Province are divided into three categories: agricultural garden, village, and a combined agricultural garden and village. 2) Five-star rural tourism areas were uniformly distributed, but other star-rated rural tourism areas were concentrated, had a high degree of centralization, and were primarily distributed in southern and middle Jiangsu. 3) The spatial distribution of star-rated rural tourism areas in Jiangsu Province is slightly unbalanced, forming high-density and sub-high-density clustering areas in southern and middle Jiangsu, but northern Jiangsu has primarily low-density clustering areas. 4) The star-rated rural tourism areas are mainly distributed within 20-40 km of the suburban area. The conclusion is that the economic level, tourism resources, tourism policy orientation, and traffic conditions are the important factors affecting the spatial distribution of each star-rated rural tourism area in Jiangsu Province. In this regard, the development of rural tourism areas in Jiangsu Province is discussed: 1) promoting regional coordinated development, especially in the middle and north of Jiangsu, 2) strengthening the integration of cluster development and building a rural tourism cluster, and 3) focus on upgrading, developing, and promoting low-star rural tourism areas to high-star areas.