In-situ Urbanization In Tourism-oriented Towns In China’s Southwest Mountainous Area

As the new national urbanization plan being proposed, many researchers begin to focus on new urbanization patterns, dynamic mechanism, impact factors, etc. The common purpose is to find new urbanization types fitted for the development of different areas. The suggestion of planning clearly indicates that in situ urbanization is an effective way to solve the problem of western urbanization. It plays an important role in breaking the urban-rural dual structure and promoting reform of household registration. Currently, studies of in situ urbanization for southwestern mountainous areas are deficient relative to eastern areas. Compared to the east, southwestern mountainous areas lag behind in development due to rough terrain. However, some small towns are rich in tourism resources and this offers a feasible way that local tourism could guide the development of urbanization. The specific implementation of tourism guiding in situ urbanization for southwestern mountainous areas is proposed in this research, which provides ideas for promotion of in situ urbanization of tourism towns in western region.First, the concept of in situ urbanization is described. Meanwhile, the research for in situ urbanization, tourism urbanization and tourism is reviewed and fundamental theories of in situ urbanization for tourism towns are elaborated. On this basis, several representative tourism towns in southwestern mountainous areas are selected in our research. And the development experience and desirability deficiencies in these cases are summarized in the process of in situ urbanization. This research focuses on the analysis of specific implementation of in situ urbanization of tourism towns in southwestern mountainous areas. In this paper, starting with macro mechanism, system, space and demographic factors are proposed as three main factors which affect the development of in situ urbanization. Afterwards, Yongxin town of Chongqing is taken as a case study. Implementation methods of in situ urbanization are analyzed from the micro-level. We believe that there are two parallel paths of in situ urbanization guided by tourism: On the basis of the multi-industry joint development guided by tourism, it is realized that tourism function and life function unified in space, employment and population changes in non-farm household. Both paths jointly promote the development of in situ urbanization for tourism towns. Based on the analysis stated above, the suggestions for promotion of in situ urbanization of tourism towns in southwestern mountainous areas are proposed ultimately.