Beyond coupling coordination: configuration mechanisms of cultural–tourism–sports industry integration in regional development

Introduction: Against the backdrop of economic restructuring and changing consumption patterns, the integrated development of the cultural, tourism, and sports industries has become an important driver of regional growth. Existing studies mainly focus on measuring the degree of coordination among these industries, while paying limited attention to the mechanisms through which coordination is achieved. This study aims to identify the dominant patterns of coordinated development among the cultural, tourism, and sports industries and to explore the underlying mechanisms that shape such coordination. Methods: Using provinces in the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River as an empirical case, this study assesses the development levels and coordination status of the cultural, tourism, and sports industries to identify key constraints on their joint development. A configurational comparative approach is employed to examine multiple pathways shaped by differences in economic conditions, industrial structure, and innovation capacity across provinces. Results: The results show that the cultural, tourism, and sports industries are closely interconnected in promoting regional development, but their level of synergy evolves gradually and varies significantly across provinces. No single factor determines the level of coordinated development. Instead, similar outcomes can be achieved through different combinations of economic, structural, and innovation-related conditions. Discussion: The findings indicate that the coordinated development of the cultural, tourism, and sports industries follows multiple pathways, highlighting the importance of differentiated development strategies tailored to regional characteristics. The study contributes to a better understanding of the mechanisms underlying industrial integration and provides practical insights for promoting high-quality regional development.