Measuring agritourism sustainability with coupling coordination: a spatio-temporal study of agriculture-culture-tourism interactions in Chinese underdeveloped regions

The limited capacity for integration and innovation in rural industries continues to undermine the sustainability of underdeveloped regions. Scientifically assessing the coupled and coordinated development of multi-sector systems has therefore become essential to advancing rural resilience and sustainable transformation. This study introduces the Agriculture-Culture-Tourism Integration System (ACTIS) and captures the dynamic interactions among agriculture, cultural resources, and tourism. Drawing on panel data from representative underdeveloped rural areas during the period 2011-2023, it applies system coupling theory in combination with methods such as entropy-weighted TOPSIS, the coupling coordination model, the standard deviation ellipse, the Theil index, and the geographical detector to construct a comprehensive indicator system for evaluating ACTIS development, spatiotemporal evolution, and driving factors. The results reveal marked spatial and temporal heterogeneity, with uneven sectoral patterns and evolving regional disparities. Coupling coordination shows distinct phases of development and is shaped primarily by internal differences rather than interregional gaps, while infrastructure, geographical indications, human capital, and technological innovation emerge as key drivers. By examining the dynamics and driving mechanisms of ACTIS, this study extends system coupling theory to multi-sector rural contexts. The findings offer important theoretical insights and practical references for promoting industrial transformation, policy innovation, and sustainable development in underdeveloped regions globally.