What is it about?
This paper draws from the perspectives of a diverse array of UK practitioners who are involved in providing resources for recreational walking. Findings from in-depth interviews shed light on the breadth of this sub-sector of tourism, and the differences which people demonstrate in their attitudes to walking, their preferences and choices, and their walking behaviour. In particular they demonstrate that walking tourists are fundamentally different. They can be 'casual' or 'serious' about walking, and this is reflected in their choice of destination and the amount and nature of walking that they participate in once there.
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Why is it important?
Walking is a key part of the vast majority of tourist trips. However as an activity, walking is under-researched, especially in the tourism literature; and spans other important sectors and policy areas including health, low-carbon travel, environmental sustainability, the outdoor clothing industry,
Perspectives
This is the first paper to detail the results of a large scale study of recreational walkers (which also included a quantitative element). As a stand-alone study, it explored some key questions which surround the role walking plays in shaping tourist experiences. Crucially it emphasises that the supply sector for walking is multi-faceted and cross-sectoral, perhaps even more so than other activities undertaken during day or staying visits at destinations; and highlights walking as a key component of sustainable destination development. Additionally, the role of confidence in ones' 'walking career' is a universal part of the experience and can determine whether individuals will gradually walk more, undertake more challenging walks; or perhaps move from being a more 'casual walker' to a 'serious walker'.
Dr Nick NJ DAVIES
University of Salford
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Who walks, where and why? Practitioners’ observations and perspectives on recreational walkers at UK tourist destinations, Annals of Leisure Research, November 2016, Taylor & Francis,
DOI: 10.1080/11745398.2016.1250648.
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