Abstract Spatial layout is very important in indicating the development of regional tourism. Spatial layout refers to the degree and status of spatial agglomeration which is caused by interaction of tourism economic entities within a certain range. It reflects tourism in terms of geography. It is the cumulative consequence of tourist activities and locations selection during the long-term tourism development. Since the spatial combination of important elements in tourism system varies in different development stages, reasonable organization and optimization of spatial layout are very significant in achieving sustainable development in tourism. This essay summarizes researches on the spatial layout of domestic tourism and finds that systematic researches on Anhui's spatial layout of tourism are rare. At present, regional tourism development is unbalanced because of disproportionate tourism resource distribution: in central and southern Anhui, tourism development is relatively mature, whereas in Northern Anhui, tourism just starts developing. The scale of "hot south, moderate center and cold north" in tourism still exists in Anhui. Spatial layout of tourism in Anhui province has undergone three stages: dot mode, radiation mode and now the radiation-and-integration mode. In order to achieve a balanced development of tourism economy and promote the competitiveness of tourism industry, it is proposed that the focus should be on the development of four tourism zones (including tourism zone along Huai River, urban tourism zone along Yangtze River in Anhui province, tourism zone of Hui Culture, as well as Hefei and Huangshan Mountain integrated tourism zone). Four more tourism zones (International Tourism and Culture Demonstration Zone in Southern Anhui, urban tourism zone along Yangtze River in Anhui province, Hefei Economy Circle Tourism Region and Tourism Region in Northern Anhui)can be established based on the present three, so that another "point-axle-region" tourism spatial pattern will be formed.
2012, Vol. 27 
