Objective This study aims to systematically analyze the characteristics of the tourism spatial correlation network (TSCN) in the Yangtze River Economic Belt and investigate its impact on the urban land green use efficiency, thereby providing theoretical support and policy references for promoting high-quality integrated regional tourism development and efficient urban land use. Methods Based on panel data from 108 prefecture-level cities and above in the Yangtze River Economic Belt from 2003 to 2022, the comprehensive tourism development index and urban land green use efficiency were measured. The modified gravity model and social network analysis model were employed to clarify the TSCN characteristics of this region, and the fixed-effects model and panel threshold model were applied to systematically analyze the impact of TSCN on the urban land green use efficiency and its threshold effects. Results 1) The urban land green use efficiency across the Yangtze River Economic Belt exhibited a W-shaped trajectory. The TSCN displayed a spatial distribution pattern characterized by "sparse in the upper reaches and dense in the middle-lower reaches" with the network structure progressively developing toward comprehensive complexity and multi-threaded connectivity. 2) Baseline regression analysis revealed that the TSCN significantly enhanced urban land green use efficiency, with the influence coefficient of in-degree being notably higher than that of out-degree. 3) Heterogeneity analysis demonstrated that the degree centrality in the upper reaches had a significantly stronger promoting effect on the urban land green use efficiency than that in the middle-lower reaches. Both in-degree and out-degree had significant influences across regions, but the degree and mechanisms of their influences varied regionally. 4) The impact of the TSCN on urban land green use efficiency showed threshold effects. Both the TSCN and transportation infrastructure exhibited a single threshold effect, with marginal benefits increasing beyond the threshold. Conclusion The Yangtze River Economic Belt should build a multi-level urban tourism network system, improve transportation infrastructure networks, and enhance the collaborative efficiency of tourism land use, thereby comprehensively promoting the urban land green use efficiency.
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