Review Reports

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The manuscript is original, the study used geodetector to explored the main urban areas of the night-time economy of the spatial differentiation of the factors from the perspective of cultural and tourism integration through the characteristics of Zunyi City night-time economy and the spatial differentiation of the main urban areas.

Quality of structure and clarity, as well as arguments and logic, are appropriate. Literature review is improved. The paper adds to the literature on tourism and hospitality by identifying the spatial differentiation characteristics of night-time economic formats and their driving factors in the Zunyi City, China. 
It will be interesting for readers of the SI, and therefore I recommend to publish it.

 

Misprints found:

"The paper provides practical theoretical basis for the night-time economic prosperity of the famous historical and cultural city" (p. 1 - Abstract) - practical basis? theoretical basis? practical AND theoretical basis?

on the page 4: (Error! Reference source not found.)

Author Response

Comments 1: "The paper provides practical theoretical basis for the night-time economic prosperity of the famous historical and cultural city" (p. 1 - Abstract) - practical basis? theoretical basis? practical AND theoretical basis?

Response 1: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have corrected this inappropriate statement in the Abstract section on page 1. For example, The results are benefit to promote the development of night-time economy in Zunyi City and the prosperity of tourism under the perspective of cultural and tourism integration, and provide empirical basis for the night-time economic prosperity of the famous historical and cultural city.

Comments 2: On the page 4: (Error! Reference source not found.)

Response 2: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have carefully checked and tested the reference on page 4. The resources of this reference are available and accessible. Please check the link below. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jdmm.2024.100960

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 2 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

The work is very clear in its development and methodologically sound.
The conceptual references are almost entirely national in scope. It is recommended to review similar studies from other countries, and citing them would be helpful to strengthen the work and enhance its international replicability.
With this small addition, the work is publishable.

Theoretically, the authors appropriately and comprehensively address the topic of Factors of Night-Time Economic Forms from the perspective of cultural and tourism integration. However, it is suggested that broader international theoretical references be added to place the analysis within a global, as well as a national, scientific context.

Methodologically, the analysis is rich, complete, and well-described, and the methods used are appropriate.

The study's objective has been achieved because, as indicated, it provides valuable insights for rational planning of the night-time economy, and the implications are adequately discussed.

Author Response

Comments 1: The conceptual references are almost entirely national in scope. It is recommended to review similar studies from other countries, and citing them would be helpful to strengthen the work and enhance its international replicability.

Response 1: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have carefully reviewed the conceptual references section and the relevant literature we have cited actually covers cases from many countries around the world (such as Australia, Poland, the United Kingdom, etc.) on page 2 to 4. For example, The night-time economy(NTE) refers to a complex system of social and economic activities that occur after dark, encompassing leisure, culture, consumption and gov-ernance(Farmer & Clifford, 2020; Zmyslony & Pawlusiński, 2019). Its connotation is twofold: on the one hand, it extends the temporal scope of tourism and urban vitali-ty(Lin et al., 2022), offering diversified experiences beyond daytime(Pawlusinski, 2023); on the other hand, if functions as a mechanism for enhancing employment(Sheikh et al., 2025); The implications of NTE are therefore not limited to economic output but also involve issues of urban safety(Wüllenweber & Burrell, 2023).

Comments 2: Theoretically, the authors appropriately and comprehensively address the topic of Factors of Night-Time Economic Forms from the perspective of cultural and tourism integration. However, it is suggested that broader international theoretical references be added to place the analysis within a global, as well as a national, scientific context.

Response 2: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have supplemented the relevant international theoretical references on cultural and tourism integration on page 3 to 4. For example, The integration of culture and tourism refers to the systematic blending of cultural resources, practices and narratives into tourism activities in order to enhance both symbolic and economic value(Liu & Xie, 2022; Zhang et al., 2025). Its connotation lies in repositioning cultural from a independent backdrop to an active driver of tourism growth(Du & He, 2025; Yang & Ning, 2025), while its implications extend to poverty alleviation(Magnani, 2017; Liu & Xie, 2022), regional balance(Wang et al., 2025; Du & Liu, 2025), heritage conservation(Malijani, 2019; Cai et al., 2021) and national image-building(Kusnayain & Hussein, 2025). In China’s policy context, cultural-tourism integration is a strategic response to disparities in development and a pathway to promote rural revitalization(Fang et al., 2023; Yang et al., 2025), common prosperity(Shi & Liao, 2025) and cultural confidence(Shao et al., 2024); The results collectively demonstrate that cultural-tourism integration: (1)Promotes rural revitalization by stimulating new urbanization(Fang et al., 2023; Chen et al., 2022) and upgrading value chains(Zeng et al., 2023; Hsieh et al., 2017); Second, it stimulates industrial economic growth by linking tourism with catering, retail, creative industries and entertainment sectors(Lin et al., 2022; Santos et al., 2019). Third, it promotes diversified and sustainable tourism development(Pongsakornrungsilp et al., 2024).

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

An interesting article. I was aware that night activities were an important factor for the economy, but I had never heard of the concept of a Night-Time Economy (NTE). In general, I find the article well written and explanatory; however, I found it to be economically oriented. With that in mind, the authors make a case for a nice road to exploit the night economy in urban communities (parking, bus rides, ATM locations, and even the population growth in those communities that eventually could work on those activities for tourists). All fine there.

What I do not see is the anthropological approach/study about culture: what the authors understand about it, what they really mean about it. On page 3, the authors mention that NTE aims to"repositioning cultural from a passive backdrop to an active driver of tourism growth",  culture could be anything except a passive backdrop. If they considered Culture that way, God help.

What are the cultural attractions that can be exploited at night? There is no discussion or even a mention about the right to sleep, the right to not be disturbed at night, and the right to enjoy nights. Or even if the local community wants those types of activities in their neighborhood. They mention that NTE would bring jobs and economy to the community, but what kind? Do they present similar cases, like say Las Vegas? How is life there? What about crime and security? When the authors discuss the NTE, they present a nice environment attached to culture, but they fail to explain what culture. They do not mention what kind of activities they mean when they say Night Entertainment: bars, nightclubs, men´s clubs? What about the issues that came with those activities: drugs, alcohol, prostitution? I question, what kind of jobs would this NTE bring: well pay? Did they find them so attractive, they were willing to do it? 

And last, but not least important, in section 1.2 Cultural and tourism integration, they mention that "In China’s policy context, cultural-tourism integration is a strategic response to disparities in development and a pathway to promote rural revitalization, common prosperity and cultural confidence." Meaning clear "heterogeneity across provinces". What? I believe that diversity is what makes a country rich, culturally speaking. The difference between communities is what makes them important and proud of their difference and uniqueness.

 

 

 

Author Response

Comments 1: What I do not see is the anthropological approach/study about culture: what the authors understand about it, what they really mean about it. On page 3, the authors mention that NTE aims to"repositioning cultural from a passive backdrop to an active driver of tourism growth",  culture could be anything except a passive backdrop. If they considered Culture that way, God help.

Response 1: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have carefully considered the study of the night-time economy from the perspective and approach of anthropology, while due to the limitation of length and mainly adopts the method of geography, the approach from anthropology will also become the direction of our follow-up research. Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have corrected the part of the improper narrative on page 3. For example, Its connotation lies in repositioning cultural from an independent backdrop to an active driver of tourism growth.

Comments 2: What are the cultural attractions that can be exploited at night? There is no discussion or even a mention about the right to sleep, the right to not be disturbed at night, and the right to enjoy nights.

Response 2: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have addressed this point in the Discussion section on page 18 of our manuscript, as elaborated through the following differentiated nighttime development strategies for Zunyi's three main districts: Opening nighttime tours of the Zunyi Conference Memorial Hall to activate the red culture in Honghuagang District. Creating nighttime experience programs centered on the Hailongtun Tusi culture in Huichuan District. Developing a nighttime cultural tourism consumption cluster focused on Qianbei culture in Wujiang Village in Bozhou District. Moreover, the issue of the 'right to the night' is indeed crucial, and we will explore this key dimension in our future work.

Comments 3: Or even if the local community wants those types of activities in their neighborhood. They mention that NTE would bring jobs and economy to the community, but what kind? Do they present similar cases, like say Las Vegas? How is life there? What about crime and security? 

Response 3: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we conducted careful consideration. Firstly, regarding employment types: China's nighttime economy, particularly under the cultural-tourism integration model, has created extensive legitimate employment opportunities. In our study area of Zunyi City, the regulated development of night markets directly addressed employment for over 700 individuals, including but not limited to stall operators and food delivery personnel. This demonstrates that the nighttime economy generates substantial formal employment opportunities across various skill levels and industry sectors. Secondly, regarding public safety: China's comprehensive legal framework (such as the Public Security Administration Punishment Law of the People's Republic of China) and routine public security management collectively foster a secure environment for nighttime activities. Concurrently, China's cultural and tourism authorities actively promote positive and healthy business models. Thus, the model examined in this study represents a safe and regulated approach to the nighttime economy. Finally, regarding the Las Vegas comparison and community acceptance: Our focus is on a nighttime economy model integrating culture and tourism, embedded within cultural districts and residential neighbourhoods to complement rather than disrupt community life. While the Las Vegas case offers insights into one type of nighttime economy, the two models exhibit fundamental differences in development approaches.

Comments 4: When the authors discuss the NTE, they present a nice environment attached to culture, but they fail to explain what culture. They do not mention what kind of activities they mean when they say Night Entertainment: bars, nightclubs, men´s clubs? What about the issues that came with those activities: drugs, alcohol, prostitution? I question, what kind of jobs would this NTE bring: well pay? Did they find them so attractive, they were willing to do it?

Response 4: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we conducted careful consideration. Firstly, regarding cultural activities and forms: The "culture" discussed in our study primarily manifests as legitimate and mainstream formats, such as nighttime sightseeing (e.g., illuminated cultural blocks, parks), cultural experiences (e.g., museums, art galleries), and social and leisure-oriented entertainment activities (e.g., cinemas, shopping malls).Secondly, regarding social issues (drugs, alcohol, prostitution): We understand the reviewer's concerns about potential negative impacts associated with certain night-time economy models globally. However, in China, the operations generated by the night-time economy are primarily lawful. Furthermore, China's legal framework provides a strict regulatory environment in this context.

Comments 5: And last, but not least important, in section 1.2 Cultural and tourism integration, they mention that "In China’s policy context, cultural-tourism integration is a strategic response to disparities in development and a pathway to promote rural revitalization, common prosperity and cultural confidence." Meaning clear "heterogeneity across provinces". What? I believe that diversity is what makes a country rich, culturally speaking. The difference between communities is what makes them important and proud of their difference and uniqueness.

Response 5: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have carefully reviewed and thought that regional preservation of uniqueness and diversity does not hinder rural revitalization, common prosperity and cultural confidence. For example, By bridging macro-level frameworks with micro-level regional variations at the county level and incorporating a basin-wide comparative perspective, this study provides regionally diverse and targeted policy foundations for synergistically advancing the "county-based" new urbanization and rural revitalization strategies. It facilitates transformative upgrades in urban-rural integration within regions experiencing development imbalances, ultimately driving coordinated progress across urban-rural development gaps （https://link.cnki.net/doi/10.16152/j.cnki.xdxbzr.2025-04-017）; The differences in regional cultures of ethnic groups in China lead to the diversity of spiritual life. Therefore, it is unrealistic to achieve common prosperity in a comprehensive and synchronous way. We should gradually achieve the sense of group identity by narrowing individual gaps and eliminating regional estrangement, and finally realize the overall prosperity of spiritual life of people of all ethnic groups; Common prosperity is not the pursuit of synchronous and equal development of all individuals or regions, but a differentiated and dynamic development process (https://link.cnki.net/doi/10.13965/j.cnki.gzmzyj10026959.2025.03.008); National culture and regional cultural diversity are important ways to protect the vitality of Chinese culture, promote the construction of modern culture and enhance cultural confidence （https://link.cnki.net/urlid/51.1731.C.20240322.1456.004）

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Reviewer 4 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Dear Authors,

Thank you for your effort in doing this research. The idea of the research is very important, and discussing the night-time economy in the context of tourism is unique. From my review, I see that the research has gone through some revisions, and the authors have made good efforts considering the older version of the research. I still have some comments I hope the author/s address to improve the quality of the article.

1- All spatial maps in the study are either small or lack an academic style, so they are not easy to read. I suggest the authors improve the quality and content of the different maps in the study.

2- Although the authors did a good job in addressing the different geospatial data, I still see that in the beginning of the introduction section the authors should present a diagram that explains the framework of the method.

3- The article needs to be restructured. It is not easy to follow the presented data. For example, the article does not have a results section or a discussion section. I suggest the authors restructure their article: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology (Case Study and Data Collection), Results, Discussion, and Conclusion.

4- For the results and discussion sections, I suggest the authors separate them carefully and be precise in the presented information: if it is a result (add it in the results section) and if it is an interpretation (add it in the discussion section).

5- Also, some sections are not familiar with the academic structure, such as (4.2.4. Brief summary and 6. Prospect). I hope you include them in the main structure.

6- The article needs to be summarized a little bit. There is too much unnecessary information that makes the article too long (23 pages). Please take care of this point.

7- The article misses the limitation part.

I hope these comments, with the other reviewers' comments, help to improve the quality of the article.

Author Response

Comments 1: All spatial maps in the study are either small or lack an academic style, so they are not easy to read. I suggest the authors improve the quality and content of the different maps in the study. 

Response 1: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, We have made the following adjustments: (1)We have redrawn the "Overview map of the research area" (seeFigure 2) to present the three study districts within Zunyi City more clearly and intuitively. (2)For all images and spatial maps in the article, we have enhanced the resolution of all spatial maps and images while enlarging the image dimensions. This allows two images to be appropriately placed per row. (3)For figures containing multiple panels, we have added identifiers such as (a), (b), (c), etc., to each panel. For example, the seven panels in Figure 4 (page 9) are labeled (a) through (g). (4)We have resized all tables and adjusted their line spacing to better fit the page layout.

Comments 2: Although the authors did a good job in addressing the different geospatial data, I still see that in the beginning of the introduction section the authors should present a diagram that explains the framework of the method.

Response 2: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have supplemented a diagram in introduction section to enhance the interpretation of the framework of the method on page 2. For example, Using Point of Interest (POI) data and spatial analysis methods, it aims to systemati-cally identify the spatial differentiation characteristics of night-time economic formats and their driving factors, the application framework of the method (see Figure 1).

Comments 3: The article needs to be restructured. It is not easy to follow the presented data. For example, the article does not have a results section or a discussion section. I suggest the authors restructure their article: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology (Case Study and Data Collection), Results, Discussion, and Conclusion. 

Response 3: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have restructured the manuscript into the following eight sections: Introduction, Literature Review, Study Area, Methodology, Data Source and Pretreatment, Results, Discussion and Conclusion, and Limitations and Future Research. Specifically: (1)The original section "Research area and method" has been subdivided into three distinct parts: Study Area, Methodology, and Data Source and Pretreatment, to strengthen the logical independence of each component. (2)The original sections "Characteristics of the spatial pattern of night-time economy business in Zunyi City" and "Influential factors of spatial differentiation of night-time economy in the main urban area of Zunyi City" have been integrated into the "Results" section on page 7, allowing for a more systematic and objective presentation of the findings and clearly distinguishing them from subsequent discussion. (3)To improve the academic standardization and completeness of the article, the title of the sixth section has been updated to "6.Conclusion andDiscussion " on page 15, and a new section "7. Limitations and Future Research" on page 18 has been added at the end to more comprehensively summarize the study, reflect on its limitations, and suggest directions for future research. (4)To enhance the academic rigor and completeness of the paper, we have updated the title of Section 6 to "6. Discussion and Conclusion", and added a new section titled "7. Limitations and Future Research" on page 18. This addition allows for a more comprehensive summary of the study, reflection on its limitations, and exploration of future research directions.

Comments 4: For the results and discussion sections, I suggest the authors separate them carefully and be precise in the presented information: if it is a result (add it in the results section) and if it is an interpretation (add it in the discussion section). 

Response 4: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have thoroughly revised the manuscript to carefully separate the "Results" and "Discussion" sections, primarily focusing on Sections 5 and 6. The aim is to ensure that the "Results" section presents objective findings, while the "Discussion" section concentrates on the interpretation and contextual analysis of these results.(1)Regarding the "Results" section on page 7, it now strictly focuses on describing the characteristics of the spatial patterns and the statistical outcomes of the factor analysis, consisting mainly of two parts: In Section 5.1, we objectively describe the overall spatial agglomeration pattern, the differences in agglomeration degrees and distribution patterns of various business types, and compare the agglomeration levels and spatial organization models across the three urban districts; In Section 5.2, we elaborate on the basis for selecting influencing factors and present the results of the factor detection for each district, identifying the dominant factors in each case. (2)All interpretive content has been moved to the "6 Conclusion and Discussion" sectionon page 15 .This includes explanations of why certain factors dominate in specific districts and how our findings relate to the urban development context. For example, the original paragraph explaining the reasons behind the dominant factors in Honghuagang District "On one hand, the district possesses the highest urbanization rate (81.56%) and the densest population distribution..." has been relocated to f the Discussion section on page 16.

Comments 5: Also, some sections are not familiar with the academic structure, such as (4.2.4. Brief summary and 6. Prospect). I hope you include them in the main structure.

Response 5: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have revised the relevant sections of our manuscript accordingly. (1)Regarding section "4.2.4 Brief summary": This subsection has been substantially streamlined to focus specifically on presenting the core findings from the Geodetector analysis. It now concisely highlights that GDP and residential density emerged as the two most dominant influencing factors for night-time economy distribution across Zunyi's main urban area. All detailed interpretations explaining why these factors prevail in specific districts have been systematically integrated into the " Conclusion and Discussion " section to maintain structural coherence and analytical depth. (2)Regarding section "6 Prospect": We have restructured and moved this section to page 18, renaming it "Limitations and Future Research" to align with academic conventions. The revised section now explicitly outlines the methodological constraints of the current study and proposes concrete, forward-looking.

Comments 6: The article needs to be summarized a little bit. There is too much unnecessary information that makes the article too long (23 pages). Please take care of this point. 

Response 6: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have undertaken a comprehensive revision to streamline the manuscript. (1)We have removed redundant and non-essential information throughout the manuscript. For instance, in the description of spatial distribution characteristics of various business formats on page 9, we have deleted explanatory phrases such as "mainly in the old town snacks and shrimp town food" and "and as the most important cultural performance venues in the former Zunyi County." (2)We have consolidated and reorganized certain sections by relocating content to more appropriate chapters. For example, the concluding discussion originally on page 15, including statements such as "Among these factors, transportation-related elements such as roads, public transit, and parking facilities indicate that the night-time economy tends to concentrate in areas with high transportation accessibility," has been incorporated into the specific analysis of Honghuagang District on page 16.

Comments 7: The article misses the limitation part.

Response 7: Thank you for your suggestion. According to your suggestion, we have added a dedicated subsection titled “7. Limitations and Future Research” on page 18. In this newly added section, we have explicitly outlined three main limitations of the current study: First, the reliance on cross-sectional data limits the analysis of temporal dynamics and evolutionary trends of the night-time economy. Second, the selection of influencing factors may lack comprehensiveness, as elements such as night-time safety, digital empowerment, and specific cultural policies have not been incorporated. Third, the profound impact of cultural factors, including regional identity and consumption habits, remains challenging to quantify effectively. Building on these limitations, we have proposed specific directions for future research. These include introducing time-series data, expanding the range of quantitative indicators, and employing mixed-method approaches to further investigate the mechanisms of non-quantifiable influencing factors.

Author Response File: Author Response.pdf

Round 2

Reviewer 3 Report

Comments and Suggestions for Authors

Comments had been corrected on the article. 

Author Response

Dear reviewer,

  We are  very grateful for your valuable suggestions and for your recognition of our revisions, which have benefited us geatly.