Abstract: A comprehensive investigation into the spatial misalignment between tourism resources and the tourism economy within Dali Prefecture is carried out in the study, concentrating on its 12 constituent counties and cities. Drawing on data pertaining to tourism resource abundance and total tourism revenue from 2015 to 2022, the analysis employs the gravity model, spatial mismatch index, and a two-dimensional matrix approach. The findings disclose a pronounced and escalating spatial disparity between the loci of tourism economic activity and the distribution of tourism resources in Dali Prefecture. On the macro scale, the spatial mismatch index exhibits a fluctuating upward trajectory, surpassing the 0.5 threshold. At the micro level, only Dali City and Eryuan County persistently occupy the high-mismatch zone, while the majority of other areas are situated within the medium to low mismatch zones. The two-dimensional matrix analysis reveals that over half of the counties and cities in Dali Prefecture are positioned within the synchronization zone, whereas the remaining areas predominantly fall within the negative mismatch zone. Notably, in the anomalous year of 2022, Jianchuan, Eryuan, and Weishan counties were classified within the positive mismatch zone. In light of these spatial mismatch patterns, the study advances targeted strategies aimed at fostering the harmonious development of tourism resources and the tourism economy throughout the region.

Key words: tourism resource abundance, tourism economy, spatial mismatch