Effect of agriculture–tourism integration on in situ urbanization of rural residents: evidence from 1868 counties in China

Purpose This study aims to clarify the impact of agriculture–tourism integration (ATI) on in situ urbanization (ISURB) of rural residents, to highlight the role of industrial integration in the process of China's ISURB and to provide industrial integration suggestions for promoting urbanization quality in Chinese counties.Design/methodology/approach By sorting out the panel data of China's 1868 counties, the evaluation index system of ISURB was constructed. Difference in difference (DID) and spatial Durbin-difference in difference (SDM-DID) model is used for estimate the relationship between ATI and ISURB.Findings First, ATI can improve ISURB by 11.4% higher than other regions. Second, theoretical analysis model of ATI on ISURB is constructed from four aspects of “drive–push–pull–block.” The results show that ATI can promote ISURB by increasing upgrading of rural industries, rural employment demand and income capacity, whereas ATI may inhibit ISURB by reducing farmland. Third, considering changes in institutional, hard and soft factors, rural collective economy, information infrastructure and digital finance all promote positive impact of ATI on ISURB. Fourth, ATI will produce spillover effects on ISURB in neighboring regions, which is more pronounced in the central and western regions.Research limitations/implications This study lacks quantification of ATI, so future studies are encouraged to further quantify ATI at the county level.Practical implications This study has policy significance for constructing ATI demonstration counties and promoting ISURB in China's counties.Social implications It is of great practical value to promote China's ISURB. By stimulating ATI, it can improve income and employment capacity of rural residents and stimulate ISURB of China.Originality/value This study enriches the theoretical and practical research on industrial integration behaviors during the process of ISURB.HighlightsUse county data to measure in situ urbanization (ISURB)Agriculture–tourism integration (ATI) can increase ISURBConstructs a “drive-push-pull-block” model to explain the influence mechanismUse spatial Durbin-difference in difference (SDM-DID) modelsConsider collective economy, rural information infrastructure and digital financeGraphical abstract