Problems of China's global demonstration tourism cities: Case Study of Liyang, China

Abstract Sustainable tourism can bring economic development and social benefits to tourism cities. At present, Global tourism is the leading urban tourism development model in China, and the Global tourism demonstration cities is tended to be used as a role model for urban tourism development, however, the existing research is mostly focused on the theoretical level, and it is unclear whether such cities actually achieve sustainable development on a realistic level. This study selects the first demonstration cities of Global tourism in China, and conducts a coupling analysis by using multi-source big data, clustering algorithm models, and regional tourism flow distribution characteristics etc. to explore whether the demonstration cities have achieved sustainable tourism. The following results can be drawn from the analysis results. Firstly, the clustering algorithm coupled model study can provide a more accurate assessment of the current situation of regional tourism compared to the thermal values; secondly, the selected city do not meet the development requirements of sustainable tourism and are in urgent need of improvement. The overarching contribution of this study is to propose a quantitative and replicable framework for urban tourism evaluation, combining spatial big data, computer algorithmic models and urban economics etc.; this study also extends the interpretation of Global tourism cities, reminds scholars and urban planners not to underestimate the possible tourism unsustainability of all-area tourism cities, and provides theoretical support for future tourism construction and urban planning development in China.