Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
relationships which were subsequently developed in urban geography and applied to
tourism and recreation. The most notable study is Stansfield and Rickert's (1970)
development of the Recreational Business District (RBD). This study rightly identifies
the multifunctional land use of the central areas of cities, including tourism and
recreational activities, in relation to the central area for business (Central Business
District (CBD)). Meyer-Arendt (1990) also expands this notion in the context of the Gulf
of Mexico coastal resorts, while D.G.Pearce (1989) offers a useful critique of these
studies. The essential ideas in the RBD have subsequently been extended to urban and
resort tourism to try to explain where the location and distribution of the range of visitor-
oriented functions occur in space.
Burtenshaw et al.'s (1991) seminal study of tourism and recreation in European cities
deals with the concept of the Central Tourist District (CTD) where tourism activities in
cities are concentrated in certain areas. This has been termed the TBD by Getz
(1993a:583-4), who argues that it is
The concentration of visitor-oriented attractions and services located in
conjunction with urban central businesses (CBD) functions. In older
cities, especially in Europe, the TBD and CBD often coincide with
heritage areas. Owing to their high visibility and economic importance,
TBDs can be subjected to intense planning by municipal authorities….
The form and evolution of TBDs reveals much about the nature of urban
tourism and its impacts, while the analysis of the planning systems
influencing TBDs can contribute to concepts and methods for better
planning of tourism in urban areas.
Therefore, TBDs are a useful framework in which to understand the supply components
of urban tourism and how they fit together. Figure 3.6, based on Getz's (1993a) analysis
Figure 3.6:
The tourism business
district
Source:
based on Getz (1993a)
