Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
1990). Aside from the Silk Road, one of the most ambitious proposals
has been the development of the Cape to Cairo corridor, originally conceived
by Cecil Rhodes to unite Africa by rail from its southernmost tip to its
northern edge, from Cape Town to Cairo. In the past decade there have been
whisperings of trying to resurrect this idea as a pan-African tourism corri-
dor, although there are many physical, economic and geopolitical constraints
standing in the way of its fruition (Frost & Shanka, 2001).
Some of these same multinational routes are well suited as walking
paths, at least portions of them are. The Way of St James (Camino de Santiago)
is one of the most popular pedestrian trails in Europe, especially among
Roman Catholics. The main portion of the way begins in France and ends
900 kilometers later at Santiago de Compostela, Spain. In addition to the
core trail there are feeder paths from as far away as the Czech Republic,
Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Portugal, and several other European
countries (MariƱas Otero, 1990; Santos, 2002). The Camino is a good exam-
ple of true cross-border cooperation in developing a long-distance cultural/
pilgrimage trail.
Settings
As noted throughout the discussion so far, trails are found both in urban
and rural settings with many overlapping purposes and resources. None-
theless, this section examines some of the characteristics of each of these
geographical settings. With respect to urban trails, they are often an integral
element of the open space of cities and are increasingly frequented by urban
residents. As for rural trails, they have become key access routes, often
through landscapes of mixed ownership, as well as playing an important role
in helping to conserve the countryside and open it up for passive forms of
recreation and tourism.
Trails and walking paths are one of the most important elements of city
tourism and recreation in the developed world, and they are becoming a
more vital part of the urban milieu in the developing world. Urban trails
provide much-needed open space in large cities and can be a respite from the
frenetic pace of metropolitan living. They provide venues for exercise, trans-
portation access between home and work or home and school, and help build
an appreciation for the city and its history and nature.
The forms and functions of urban trails vary considerably from place to
place and can depend on the age and size of the city, as well as the needs of
its residents. City parks, gardens and other greenways are one of the most
ubiquitous locations of urban paths and trails (Auckland City, 2004; Belan,
2000). They are now a universal part of the urban fabric of most historic
cities throughout the world. Heritage trails are often developed to link
together thematic cultural sites that are of most importance in the city where
they are located (Goodey, 1975; Hayes & MacLeod, 2007, 2008).
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