A REVIEW OF RESEARCHES ON TOURISM CLUSTER AT HOME AND ABROAD

The researches and practices on are increasing at home and abroad. The definition of tourism cluster has three aspects: the whole industry, industry organization or initiative and on the base of geographical agglomeration. Generally speaking, the research emphasizes the third aspect in academic studies, and includes four parts: 1) the formation condition and competitive advantage of cluster; 2) the importance of the cluster; 3) the enterprise network and social capital in cluster; 4) the competition and cooperation among enterprises in cluster. The method of research is characterized with various angels. Many case researches have been done abroad, but the lack of the quantitative methods is their deficiency. The researches on at home are only at beginning stage with main attention on the formation of the theory, including the defination, structure, types, the formation condition, agglomeration dynamics and competitice advantage of cluster. The subject characteristic and methods have not been well formed yet and the case researches are very insufficient. The paper explains the differences of the researches on at home and abroad with one table, and argues that the formation mechanism and evolving law of should be conducted with the theory of different subjects at home in future. The local relations and external relations of are also one of important research topics. The spatial structure and the distribution of should be stressed on because the spatial structure of can influence the local environment greatly. Moreover, the role of government in development and governance should be considered in the research of cluster, especially in China, due to its significance.