Network Characteristics and Influencing Factors of Sports Tourism Information Flow in the Yangtze River Delta Region

This study utilizes social network analysis and mathematical statistics to analyze the characteristics and influencing factors of the sports tourism information flow network in the Yangtze River Delta region. The findings indicate that the overall network is characteristic of increasingly tight internal connections and small-world embodiment, with notable trends of collaborative development among cities within the region and relatively stable network community structures. In terms of individual network characteristics, cities such as Shanghai, Nanjing, Suzhou, and Hangzhou exhibit high degree centrality and intermediary centrality, while Huangshan, Bengbu, Zhoushan, Quzhou, and Lishui demonstrate high closeness centrality. Regarding the influencing factors, there is a significantly positive correlation between degree centrality and total flow, suggesting that when a target city has high visibility and attractiveness in the sports tourism information flow network, it can attract more information inflow. It is proposed to strengthen network connections to promote balanced development of regional sports tourism, enhance the influence and radiation effects of core cities in sports tourism, and develop differentiated strategies based on their unique characteristics and advantages to strengthen the attractiveness of urban sports tourism.