Resort Morphology: Chinese Applications by Jia Liu A thesis presented to the University of Waterloo in fulfillment of the thesis requirement for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Geography Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 2008 ©Jia Liu 2008 Library and Archives Bibliothèque et Canada Archives Canada Published Heritage Direction du Branch Patrimoine de l’édition 395 Wellington Street 395, rue Wellington Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Ottawa ON K1A 0N4 Canada Canada Your file Votre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-55535-4 Our file Notre référence ISBN: 978-0-494-55535-4 NOTICE: VIS The author has granted a non- L’auteur a accordé une licence non exclusive exclusive license allowing Library and permettant à la Bibliothèque et Archives Archives Canada to reproduce, Canada de reproduire, publier, archiver, publish, archive, preserve, conserve, sauvegarder, conserver, transmettre au public communicate to the public by par télécommunication ou par l’Internet, prêter, telecommunication or on the Internet, distribuer et vendre des thèses partout dans le loan, distribute and sell theses monde, à des fins commerciales ou autres, sur worldwide, for commercial or non- support microforme, papier, électronique et/ou commercial purposes, in microform, autres formats. paper, electronic and/or any other formats. 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This is a true copy of the thesis, including any required final revisions, as accepted by my examiners. I understand that my thesis may be made electronically available to the public. ii Abstract This paper adopts a geographical perspective to understand the conceptual and theoretical issues of resort morphology. Resort morphology refers to “the forms and associated functions of a destination area and their development”. Resort towns are differentiated from other urban areas in terms of morphology because of their functional emphasis on tourism. The literature reflects the significant interest of European geographers in the morphological study of coastal resort towns. However, limited attention has been given to resort morphology in developing countries. It is argued that the complex of contextual factors that influence the morphological character of resorts needs to be considered and, furthermore, there is a great need to develop a systematic approach for investigating resort morphology. Based on a review of literature, this paper first introduces the contributions and implications of related research to the understanding of resort morphology: study of resort evolution, the Recreational Business District, urban morphology, and Geographic Information System (GIS) applications. Then, the situation of China is addressed because there is a striking contrast between the rate of change and increasing complexity of Chinese resorts and the very limited amount of studies from either western or Chinese scholars. A quantitative-qualitative mixed research approach is introduced to understand transitional resort morphology in China. It involves classifying land uses, building a descriptive and explanatory framework, creating form- function maps, and the analysis of morphological characteristics. Two study areas are selected for detailed examination: a coastal resort town, Sanya and a lake-based resort town, Wuxi. Morphological changes associated with key contextual factors influencing tourism and recreational development are analyzed in these places. A comparative discussion of Sanya and Wuxi indicates similarities between their development patterns of resort morphology and their present morphological features but significant differences in terms of history, evolutionary process, tourism resources, location and level of economic development. It is less helpful simply to define models applicable to distinct Chinese water-based resort towns than to identify similarities among them. Rules for resort study in the Chinese context are recommended and the characteristics of morphological transformation in a typical water-based resort town are summarized in view of resort development patterns. iii It is indicated that the morphology of a typical water-based resort cluster can be in large part a function of its recreational hinterlands (urban areas), and whether it is well-planned or more naturally developed. Finally, the relationships between contextual factors, tourism development, and resort evolution and resort morphology are interpreted in the context of Chinese water-based resort towns. The significance of morphological research on current as well as past resort structure for future planning and conservation activities is indicated. A systematic approach, which combines the morphological method, the functional method and the evolutionary method, is suggested to study resort morphology. By using resort evolution theory, it is indicated that resort morphology can be clearly identified and explored within a conceptual framework. This study also shows that GIS techniques are highly applicable in the study of resort morphology. This study indicates that water-based resort morphology in China is presently characterized by intensive land use and dense development, fast settlement expansion associated with growing vacation property development, and a generally clustered pattern of accommodation. Tourism planning in China has developed procedures and strategies with little consideration for the historical process. Therefore, this study has implications for making reasonable development strategies and efficiently implemented policies and plans. Academically, resort morphology is clarified in both Chinese and Western contexts. Also, common characteristics of Chinese water-based resort towns are summarized and phenomena generated from western studies are tested in the Chinese cases. Key Words: resort morphology, Chinese water-based resort towns, Sanya, Wuxi, GIS application iv Acknowledgements The journey of a doctoral study brings one into contact with many travelling companions. It becomes so clear in retrospect how many people have given me a hand in such a journey. I owe thanks to those who provided directions, who helped with the load, and those who shared the path. First and foremost, I sincerely appreciate my advisor, Dr. Geoffrey Wall, who gave me wide latitude to pursue questions in the study of resort morphology. His perspective and knowledge helped me to focus on my goals and overcome the challenges throughout this journey. Another advisor of mine, Professor Peter Deadman, has my utmost thanks for his great suggestions and comments on GIS applications in this research. Each of my committee members provided constructive critiques in the dissertation research process. Thanks to Professor Douglas Dudycha, Professor Bryan Smale and Professor Robert Feick for their kindness, direct help and thoughtful comments. Especially, I owe thanks to my advisors, Professor Dudycha and Professor Smale, who gave me great comments on my comprehensive examination and provided their support since the very beginning of this journey. The University of Waterloo was supportive financially throughout this journey and I appreciate the research assistantships, teaching assistantships and scholarships that kept me afloat financially. I own gratitude to my Master’s advisor, Professor Zhang Jie in Nanjing University, who gave me comments and support throughout this journey and helped me greatly in my field survey in China. I want to especially thank Wang Yang, who helped me very much with the field survey in Hainan Province. I express my deep gratitude to people and organizations in Jiangsu and Hainan, China. I was helped at various points with the field survey by Liu Tanghua, Zhong Jing, Sun Mingfang, You Jiong, Feng Songpan, Cai Junshan in Wuxi and Hao Shuwen, Huang Yan, Wen He, Li Bo, Zheng Gang and Cai Shidong in Sanya. I want to express my sincere appreciation to friends in Waterloo, particularly Dianne Pawlowski and Gloria Ichim who contributed a great deal in the proofreading of my research papers. Finally, I want to especially thank my family, who gave me uncountable love. To my dearest mum and dad, only with their enduring understanding and endless support could I follow the twisting path through study and work. v Table of Contents List of Figures.............................................................................................................................x List of Tables............................................................................................................................xii Chapter 1 Introduction ................................................................................................................1