Abstract
This study examines the evolution of the coupling relationship among the tourism industry, urbanization, and human settlements of the urban agglomeration in the middle reaches of the Yangtze River from 2005 to 2019. By employing a constructed evaluation index system and a quantitative analysis model, the study aims to characterize and analyze this relationship. The key findings are as follows: (1) The coupling coordination level of the three major systems exhibits a continuous upward trend over the study period, albeit with a gradually slowing growth rate. The Changsha -Zhuzhou-Xiangtan urban agglomeration shows the highest average growth rate, followed by the Wuhan metropolitan area and the Poyang Lake urban agglomeration. (2) The variation coefficient and Taylor index of the coupling coordination degree demonstrate a fluctuating downward trend, indicating a convergence in spatial differences in interregional coupling coordination levels. Internal differences between city clusters within urban agglomerations are identified as the main source of overall differences in coupling coordination levels. (3) The coupling coordination levels of the three major systems follow an evolutionary trajectory characterized by "serious imbalance, moderate imbalance, mild imbalance". Clear features of level transitions are observed among various cities. (4) The endowment of tourism resources emerges as the primary factor driving the evolution of the coupling relationship among the tourism industry, urbanization, and human settlements. The study highlights the increasing diversification of driving forces and significant spatiotemporal heterogeneity in interregional driving forces for coupling relationship evolution factors.