Arid　regions　hold　a　prominent　position　as　global　tourist　destination.　However,　their　ecological　fragility　and　sensitivity　to　economic　and　social　factors　make　them　more　susceptible　to　various　disruptive　elements,　thereby　exacerbating　the　instability　of　the　tourism　socio-ecological　system.　Consequently,　there　has　been　a　growing　focus　on　tourism　socio-ecological　system　resilience　(TSESR)　in　arid　regions.　This　study　has　developed　a　scientific　and　universally　applicable　assessment　framework　to　evaluate　TSESR　in　arid　regions,　considering　the　system＇s　process　mechanisms　and　dimensions.　The　framework　encompasses　four　key　domains:　resistance,　recovery,　adaptation,　and　renewal,　further　divided　into　twelve　criterion　layers.　This　study　conducted　a　case　study　in　14　prefecture-level　units　in　Xinjiang,　China,　from　2010　to　2020.　An　improved　TOPSIS　model,　Gini　coefficient,　Kernel　density　estimation,　and　Obstacle　degree　model　were　employed　to　investigate　the　levels,　spatiotemporal　variations,　and　obstacle　factors　of　TSESR.　The　research　findings　indicate　that　during　the　study　period,　the　resilience　levels　of　the　14　prefecture-level　cities　exhibited　an　overall　upward　trend　with　fluctuations.　There　are　notable　spatial　disparities,　yet　these　disparities　are　diminishing.　Furthermore,　factors　such　as　resource　endowment,　market　potential,　economic　foundation,　industrial　environment,　and　human　capital　represented　common　obstacles,　while　unique　regional　impediments　also　existed.　The　TSESR　assessment　index　system　can　scientifically　and　comprehensively　evaluate　resilience　levels,　offering　an　adaptive　indicators　framework　for　arid　regions.　It　promotes　the　development　of　a　resilient　tourism　socio-ecological　system,　thereby　achieving　sustainable　tourism　development.　©　2024　The　Author(s)