Evaluation of intangible cultural heritage tourism utilization potential and type area division in China based on multi-source data

Based on multi- source data, this paper constructs an evaluation index system of intangible cultural heritage tourism utilization potential, uses entropy method to analyze the spatial differentiation characteristics of intangible cultural heritage tourism utilization potential, and uses K- means clustering method to classify the types of areas for the integrated development of intangible cultural heritage and tourism with similar advantages. The study found that: (1) The overall intangible cultural heritage tourism utilization potential in China is low, with significant regional differences. Wuyue, Yanzhao, Mintai and Qilu cultural zones have achieved the organic unity of the "three- dimensional goal" of resources, carriers and supports, and have a high potential for intangible cultural heritage tourism utilization. The Kanto Cultural District has the lowest potential. (2) The spatial distribution of the intangible cultural heritage tourism potential takes the cities with high administrative level, some famous historical and cultural cities and ethnic minority settlements as the core, and takes the junction of cultural areas as the edge, showing obvious "core- edge" characteristics. Cities with high potential include Beijing and Shanghai; cities with relatively high potential include high- level administrative cities such as Guangzhou, Hangzhou, Chongqing and other cities such as Jincheng, Huangshan, Qiandongnan, Jinzhong, Quanzhou; cities with medium potential are mainly distributed in Wuyue, Yanzhao and Qilu cultural areas; cities with low potential and relatively low potential are numerous and extensive. In terms of sub- dimensions, the carrier dimension has the largest regional difference, followed by the support and resource dimensions. (3) China can be divided into five types of areas for the integrated development of intangible cultural heritage and tourism. The areas with high advantages only include Beijing and Shanghai; Support advantageous areas include Guangzhou, Hangzhou and other 11 cities. The advantaged medium areas include 69 cities, mainly distributed in Wuyue, Yanzhao, Qilu and other cultural areas. The number of cities with low advantage is as high as 249, which is widely distributed in the whole country. Finally, this paper puts forward targeted strategic plans for the deep integration of intangible cultural heritage and tourism in different types of areas. © 2023 Science Press. All rights reserved.