Current Issue

SPATIOTEMPORAL COUPLING MECHANISM BETWEEN TOURIST FLOW AND GROUNDWATER LEVEL DYNAMICS AT GUANZILING HOT SPRINGS AND ITS MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

Chun-Chi Yang*

Department of Industrial Management, I-Shou University, Taiwan R. O. C. 

*Corresponding author: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Hsiang-Chin Hung

Department of Industrial Management, I-Shou University, Taiwan R. O. C. 

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Abstract

The Guanziling region is renowned for its unique mud hot springs, which draw a substantial influx of visitors seeking an immersive spa experience. However, as tourist numbers have grown, concerns have mounted over the area’s groundwater resources and the dynamic behavior of spring‐well water levels. This study leverages multi‐source spatiotemporal datasets to elucidate the coupling mechanisms between hot‐spring tourism fluxes and groundwater‐level fluctuations. By integrating geographic information systems (GIS) with hydrological modeling, we systematically analyze tourism visitation statistics, monitored groundwater level records, and local geological conditions to assess their interactive influences. In our empirical analysis, we synthesized hot‐spring visitor counts, groundwater‐level monitoring data, and geological parameters. 

The results show that peak tourism periods are frequently accompanied by significant declines in groundwater levels. These fluctuations correlate not only with extraction volumes but also with natural factors such as precipitation intensity and aquifer recharge rates. To achieve sustainable management of the Guanziling hot springs, we recommend establishing a dynamic evaluation and monitoring framework and enforcing strict controls on extraction volumes during peak tourism seasons to balance visitor demand with the protection of groundwater resources. 

Keywords: Guanziling hot spring, tourism flow, groundwater level dynamics, spatiotemporal coupling, management implications