Abstract:

Through the long-term data collection for Shanghai travel agencies, the spatial distribution pattern and its evolution of metropolitan travel agencies are studied with GIS analysis method, the influencing factors on the distribution and evolution of tourism industry are analyzed. The results are as follows: The spatial distribution pattern of the travel agencies in Shanghai was composed of "a gathering center with single core and two dispersal sub-centers ", and now the overall spatial distribution pattern has become "a ring core cluster with C-typed clustered secondary agglomeration rings". The expansion direction of the travel agencies is more obviously from the city center to the west and the southwest, while less to the east and northeast. The travel agencies continuously spread to all levels of business districts, scenic spots, and population accumulation areas. The evolution of the spatial distribution of the travel agencies is characterized by the process from low concentration to high concentration, and the degree of the agglomeration is increasing. Industrial spatial distribution of travel agencies and its evolution are influenced by the factors such as urban spatial patterns, population distribution, regional development, tourism resources, reception capacity, communications condition and so on. The analysis of the spatial distribution and evolution of travel agencies in metropolis would be helpful to metropolitan tourism industrial structure adjustment and industrial space layout.

Key words: tourism industry, metropolis, travel agency, evolution, spatial distribution