Evaluation of Geotourism Potential Based on Spatial Pattern Analysis in Jiangxi Province, China

To provide essential information on geoheritage and geotourism potential in Jiangxi Province—a key region for geoheritage distribution in China—this study summarizes and categorizes the types, grades, and distribution characteristics of geoheritage within local communities. The primary analytical methods included average nearest neighbour analysis, kernel density estimation, and spatial autocorrelation to explore spatial distribution patterns. A total of 202 significant geoheritage sites were identified in Jiangxi Province. Furthermore, an evaluation index system was established using the entropy weight TOPSIS model to assess the geotourism potential of each city. The findings reveal the following: (1) Geoheritage sites in Jiangxi Province exhibit an overall aggregated spatial distribution, although clustering intensity varies among different geoheritage types and grades. (2) Considering both grade and category, the core distribution area of geoheritage is located in eastern Shangrao City, while global-level geoheritage sites are mainly concentrated in the Poyang Lake Plain. (3) Spatial autocorrelation analysis indicates that, except for global-level geoheritage sites, other geoheritage sites display significant spatial agglomeration with positive spatial correlation. Moreover, local-scale spatial association characteristics differ notably according to geoheritage type and grade. (4) The geotourism development potential across Jiangxi Province shows clear spatial differentiation, with higher potential concentrated in the eastern and southern regions.