Research on the coupling and coordination of harmonious rural construction and integration of agriculture and tourism.

The high-quality development of the integration of agricultural tourism (IAT) is essential for realizing the rural revitalization strategy. This study investigates the comprehensive development level of harmonious rural construction (HRC) and IAT, as well as their coupling coordination degree, using the entropy weight method, coefficient of variation method, coupling coordination degree model, and panel Tobit model. The study shows that, firstly, the level of HRC in all provinces of China has been steadily increasing, with high-value areas of HRC transitioning from a scattered distribution to a more structured layout between 2011 and 2020. Secondly, IAT has increased across all provinces, following a distribution pattern of "high in the south and low in the north, high in the west and low in the east" during the same period. Thirdly, the overall level of HRC and the coupling coordination of agricultural and tourism integration in China remains low, with noticeable regional disparities, as only Shandong Province has reached the primary coordination level. Lastly, urbanization, R&D intensity, economic development, and transportation infrastructure all significantly contribute to the coupled and coordinated development of the two systems. Additionally, factors such as the number of 5A scenic locations, human capital, urbanization level, and openness to the outside world have varying effects on their coordinated development.