Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
What emerges from the walking literature is the enormous potential for health
tourism and health interventions, to encourage behavioural change and
improved walking environments. There is a synergy with the development of
slow travel opportunities at destinations that is illustrated by some destina-
tions, such as the Alpine Pearls project, where walking is featured as a major
attraction.
Most recreational walking takes place at the urban destination, however.
This is an under-developed topic of analysis; it tends to be overshadowed by
the omnipresence in the literature of issues such as vulnerable road users, retail
planning and similar topics that revolve around the highway and cars. Some
interest exists in destination management with regard to the encouragement of
walking at events, attractions and the circulation of pedestrian flows through
the retail zones, but it is generally not reported in the literature. There is a
major challenge for destinations that have invested in highway networks in
order to improve access, seemingly at the expense of walking provision. Given
a likely low-carbon future, there will be increasing governmental pressure to
encourage walking and cycling for short trips.
The academic discussion in relation to leisure and tourism tends to focus
on walking for pleasure in the countryside, sometimes referred to as rambling
or hiking (Kay, 1999). Edensor (2000) argues that the tradition of walking for
pleasure stems from a period when walking was romanticized by those who
walked on their Grand Tour or when partaking in other travels abroad. The
romantic notion distinguished walking for pleasure from the walking under-
taken by the majority of the population in their everyday lives. A smaller
segment of the leisure walking market features trekking or tramping (a term
from New Zealand) in remote wilderness areas. Here, walkers cover longer
distances per day, follow more demanding schedules and sometimes include
rough camping.
The dual purpose of walking, utility and pleasure, is every bit as relevant
in contemporary society. Walking out of necessity rather than choice is the
stark reality for the vast majority of the population in developing countries.
For example, walking barefoot to the fields, with heavy tools and children, is
a major daily burden for women in many developing countries (IFAD, 2001).
Walking in the urban areas of developing countries (which accounts for
between 50 and 90 per cent of all urban trips) is a hazardous pursuit, given
the lack of investment in pedestrian areas and the rapid increase of cars in lim-
ited highway space (I-ce, 2000). This contrasts greatly with the imagery
projected in relation to walking holidays located in developing countries.
These holidays are set in the mountains or forests, often associated with access
to nature and with walkers accompanied by a guide, native porters, quality
garments and a back-up vehicle.
Walking is defined in relation to tourism as a trip made on foot, where
the choice of mode is made principally for recreation, relaxation or as a form
of geotourism to exploit places where earth-science features can be explored
(Pralong, 2007). In some cases, walking is simply a means to physical exer-
tion. It represents a conflation of physical exercise (Roberson and Babic,
2009), social engagement (Kyle and Chirk 2004) and access to different places
