By analyzing the provincial data across the country from 2010 to 2023,this paper explores the impact of the digital economy on the development of China's sports tourism market.The study finds that the digital economy has the most significant role in promoting the sports tourism market in the eastern region,while its impact in the central and western regions is relatively weak.In addition,the optimization of the supply structure,industrial agglomeration and market attractiveness play important intermediary roles between the digital economy and the development of the sports tourism market.This study provides a new perspective for understanding how the digital economy affects the sports tourism market through multiple mechanisms,and puts forward policy suggestions such as strengthening the construction of digital infrastructure in the central and western regions and promoting regional coordinated development to facilitate balanced development across the country.
digital economysports tourismregional differencesintermediary effectempirical analysis