Hi, I play all Sandbox style and just try to build the most efficient and economically successful islands I can. I have always set my islands up to have a tourist zone on the far side from the docks and palace area, usually in the coastal area with the highest "beauty" rating. I place a collection of tourist attractions near the tourist dock and accommodations.

But since my tourists seem to often go far away from the tourist dock area for entertainment venues, I wondered what would happen if most of the tourist hotels were in the main city zones of the island.

I can see one downside would be their accommodations would be in lower "beautiful" areas of the island. But a plus would be they could walk from their hotels to whatever attraction they are seeking. I often see tourists walking all the way across my island to get back to their hotels!

Anybody have any experience with that type of design?

Sure, I do this all the time. If you've got a nice downtown area with lots of entertainment, throw a few regular hotels in there. I've noticed that many of the slobs, eco-tourists, and spring breakers like to sample the local color. Sometimes you'll find them in a pub out by the tobacco fields rather than the nightclub next to their hotel.

It's relatively inexpensive, and it's a nice little revenue stream when you're waiting for The Big Dump on your dock.

Doesn't seem to work as well for the luxury tourists in the big hotels, they like their own little enclave with day spas and upscale nightclubs. Can't be rubbing elbows with the grubby locals, you know.

I don't know if I'm doing it right, but I just segregate tourists and Tropicans, and the only people tourists ever see are those working in hotels/attractions. I just build all the hotels and attractions on the far side of the beach, and hope no one wanders off.

They do wander off sometimes...once I caught a tourist in front of my palace so I trapped her with a maze of trees.

I've located my entertainment buildings between downtown and the tourist docks. Try to minimize traffic.