Optimizing tourism ecological security: a study based on NCA and FsQCA methods

Tourism Ecological Security (TES) is crucial to sustainable tourism development. This study establishes a TES research framework grounded in the “technology-organization-environment” paradigm and employs a mixed-method approach, integrating fuzzy set Qualitative Comparative Analysis and Necessary Condition Analysis. To examine the factor configurations conducive to achieving high TES, the Yangtze River Delta region of China is selected as a case study. The findings indicate that: (1) from 2011 to 2019, the overall TES level showed an overall upward trend over time. and cities with relatively high TES levels have better policy and economic advantages. (2) Financial support from the government plays an indispensable role in achieving high TES. (3) Although the configuration for achieving high TES is gradually changing from a financial support-led strategy to an economic development-led strategy, financial support is still essential. Theoretical and practical implications derived from the findings are explored and elucidated.