The geography of a tourist business: Hotel distribution and urban development in Xiamen, China

This paper examines the evolution of hotel location in the city of Xiamen, in the People's Republic of China. It shows that this distribution has changed consider ably with the growth of tourism, as well as the profound changes that have been affecting Chinese cities in the past 20 years. The article takes a look at urban tourist morphology, drawing parallels with distribution patterns observed else where, particularly Ashworth and Tunbridge's model of hotel location. Starting with an inventory of hotels, it examines the evolution of distribution patterns according to opening dates, size of establishments and category of hotels. These patterns are then analysed according to a morphology of the city that takes into account its recent evolution, more particularly the spatial impact of the Special Economic Zone, increased urban development and the emergence of a new down town. It concludes by putting in evidence the convergence of models of hotel location and introduces a few implications for further development