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. 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.

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. 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.

Orientador: Rosângela Custodio Cortez Thomaz / Resumo: O turismo atualmente vem despontando como uma atividade socioeconômica capaz de liderar o desenvolvimento territorial turístico de base local. Essa atividade apresenta uma grande complexidade por estabelecer relação com diversos setores econômicos e socioculturais. Dessa forma, necessita de planejamento participativo em seu processo de implantação e desenvolvimento, visando ao bem-estar social da comunidade inserida. O turismo se apropria das espacialidades e das territorialidades produzidas pela sociedade, transformando-as em produtos turísticos que são consumidos e mercantilizados, tendo a capacidade de preservar e potencializá-las ou destruílas. Ao consumir os espaços, o turismo gera o movimento concomitante de territorialização, desterritorialização e reterritorialização, por meio de ações socioeconômicas intencionais que se materializam no tempo e no espaço. A presente pesquisa tem como objetivo central compreender a territorialização do turismo no município de Presidente Epitácio (SP), por meio de duas políticas multiescalares que se desdobraram em novas territorialidades, sendo elas: a titulação do município de Presidente Epitácio de Estância Turística do Estado de São Paulo e a política de expansão energética da CESP que se desdobrou na formação de um grande lago artificial e em obras mitigatórias e compensatórias. Apesar de distintas, estas se complementam em suas ações e discursos que buscam a potencialização e consolidação do território turístico de Presidente Epit... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Tourism is currently emerging as a socioeconomic activity capable of leading local tourism-based territorial development. This activity presents a great complexity because it establishes relationship with several economic and sociocultural sectors. Thus, it needs participative planning in its implementation and development process, aiming at the social welfare of the inserted community. Tourism appropriates the spatialities and territorialities produced by society, transforming them into tourism products that are consumed and marketed, having the ability to preserve and enhance or destroy them. By consuming the spaces, tourism generates the concomitant movement of territorialization, deterritorialization and reterritorialization, through intentional socioeconomic actions that materialize in time and space. This research aims to understand the territorialization of tourism in the municipality of Presidente Epitácio (SP), through two multi-scalar policies that unfolded into new territorialities, namely: the title of the municipality of Presidente Epitácio as Resort Town of the State of São Paulo and CESP's energy expansion policy, which unfolded in the formation of a large artificial lake and in the mitigating and compensatory works. Although distinct, they complement each other in their actions and speeches that seek to strengthen and consolidate the tourist territory of Presidente Epitácio. To support this research and reflections on the central objective, a theoretical discu... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

This thesis studies how architecture and planning influence community living through relationships between public spaces, housing, and circulation that focus on stimulating social activities for the betterment of service industry workers’ way of life. Our built environment can not only connect people to one another or to activities or to places, but it can also isolate people. For the service-based populace of Lake Louise, Alberta, isolation is a recurring factor in various aspects of their lives. The design attempts to establish connections between the people and the community, to eradicate the barriers that fragment the community without neglecting the necessity of refuge for the individual.