Modelling of urban tourism : a case study of Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC).

• Main Authors: Ho, Shu Lian., Kang, Evelyn Pei Yee., Tan, Isabel Sze Hui.
• Other Authors: Russell Arthur Smith
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: English
• Published: 2009
• Subjects: DRNTU::Business::Industries and labor
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/15281
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Tourism in cities exists within a wider regional and national context in terms of spatial patterns of visitor behaviour and distribution of tourism resources. Tourism in historic cities has been modelled by Ashworth and Tunbridge (1990) as the shaping and location of historic resources that have a close relationship with the contemporary functions of their urban context. However, this model is derived from medium-sized European cities, with no stated relevance to Asian historic cities. This research seeks to evaluate Ashworth and Tunbridge’s (1990) model of evolution of historic city in the Asian context. The model was used as it possesses five stages of tourist-historic city development over time. Ho Chi Minh City (HCMC) was selected due to its well documented history, its significant urban tourism growth over time and it being one of the fastest growing economies in Asia. The case study research method coupled with comparative evaluation was applied. A comprehensive evolutionary model of the case of HCMC was constructed. This was compared with the Ashworth and Tunbridge model to identify the relevance of the model to this Asian case. Key variations with the model were that for the case there were two Original Cities (OC) and two Central Business District (CBD). Also migration of CBD took place at a later stage of development than described in the model. However, the model does show some value as other key similarities with HCMC’s model were found. Overall the model has value for understanding the advent of tourism in Asian historic cities, but further research is needed to modify the model for the Asian context.