The classification of A-level tourist attractions and the influencing factors of their spatial distribution in Hubei Province

Taking different types of A-level tourist attractions in Hubei Province as the research object, kernel density analysis, standard deviation ellipses, cold and hot spot analysis, geographical probes, and Pearson correlation analysis were employed to examine the spatial differentiation characteristics and influencing factors of various landscapes in the region. The research shows that: 1)A-level tourist attractions in Hubei Province can be divided into seven categories: geographical landscape, water landscape, biological landscape, architectural landscape, cultural relics, shopping activities, and cultural activities. The nuclear density distribution shows a gradient differentiation of "east-west dualcore agglomeration-central depression". The high-value areas are concentrated along the Wuling Mountains in western Hubei, the Dabie Mountains-Yangtze River composite zone in eastern Hubei, and the Hanjiang River Basin in northern Hubei. Xiantao and Qianjiang are significantly low-value areas. 2)Standard deviation ellipses analysis shows that the main axis of the tourist attractionsis highly consistent with the provincial contour, except that the shopping activity is on the northeast-southwest axis. 3) The analysis of cold and hot spots shows that the landscape of Shennongjia, the cultural activities of Enshi, and the biological landscape of Huangshi and Huanggang are highly concentrated, and cold spots characterize the urban agglomeration of Jianghan Plain. 4)Geographical detectors and Pearson correlation show that natural elements constitute the spatial framework of the distribution of tourist attractions. The traffic mileage is the core human influence factor. The research provides a theoretical reference and basis for the spatial identification and development of tourism resources in Hubei Province.