Urban Tourism Districts: A Taxonomy and a Study of a New Proposed Type

Abstract

Urban tourism districts are a fundamental element of urban tourism, but there is no generally agreed-on classification system. This paper presents a new taxonomy of urban tourism precincts, with four major types and many sub-types. The paper also reports a study of a large and particularly interesting district, Sukhumvit in Bangkok, to illustrate one major new type (complex mixed non-CBD) and to illustrate the need to extend earlier classification systems. Sukhumvit was mapped and observed and 278 tourists who had stayed in Sukhumvit were asked about their motives for visiting Thailand and their travel behaviour. Sukhumvit has many bar areas and tourist-orientated businesses and even has a component Arab precinct. It has several tourist user groups and many foreign residents. Tourists generally stayed a few days, were satisfied with their stay, and planned to return. The taxonomy interrelates several different literatures, brings some clarity to the diversity of precincts, and suggests other types of urban tourism precinct to study.