Abstract In recent years, little attention has been paid to the study on inter-relationship between tourism itineraries and spatial competition and cooperation among different tourism regions in tourism researches. The tourist itineraries designed by local governments only focus on their own tourism resources, but not the relevant one in the other destinations. From the market perspective, understanding the role and function of the destination in tourism itineraries can have a significant influence on the market positioning, product developing and marketing strategy of tourism destination. However, the practices in China are different from the trip destination type theory proposed by Alan A. Lew and Bob McKercher and based on international long-time travelers via the flight as their traffic tools. Investigating more than one hundred itineraries of travel agencies in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu and Hefei, concerning Tunxi District, Huangshan City on the internet, this article analyzes the role and function of Tunxi District in the five cities' tourism itineraries. The findings show that the distance to the cities determines the function and role of Tunxi District in the itineraries, Tunxi District becomes the gateway and hub destination in Shanghai's itineraries with the train for transport because of the appropriate distance. But it doesn't play so important roles in the itineraries of other cities which are too far away or too near from Tunxi District. Without higher grade airport, Tunxi District has lost the chance to serve as hub gateway, even the most important destination of the long-time itineraries in the whole East China. Its functions and the role are restricted, thereby affacting the the economic promotion badly. In this context, the paper appeals to the decision makers for the significance of Tunxi District in the South of Anhui Province tourism region, and stresses the upgrade and development of tourist products and the expanding of market.
2009, Vol. 24 
