Tourism and urban walkability: an opportunity to rethink destination planning and management

Walkable urban places can be characterized as high density urban areas with a mix of diverse real estate types connected to surrounding places via multiple transportation options. Their walkable nature is related to dimensions... [ view full abstract ]

Walkable urban places can be characterized as high density urban areas with a mix of diverse real estate types connected to surrounding places via multiple transportation options. Their walkable nature is related to dimensions including aesthetics, density, form, pedestrian amenities, personal safety, or traffic measures.

This presentation is based on ongoing research developed at the International Institute of Tourism Studies and at the Center for Real Estate and Urban Analysis at the George Washington University’s School of Business on walkable urban places in the Washington DC metro area. This research seeks to measure the economic role of walkable places in metro areas and to discuss how the design, management and governance of walkable places can bolster the local and regional visitor economy; enhance the overall attractiveness of places and lead towards a community responsible tourism development.

The presentation discusses how important is to include tourism in the planning, design and management of walkable places and how walkable urban development should integrate tourism as key factor of boosting prosperity and value creation. Walkability is considered a powerful concept that can help to develop a slow, smart, seductive, safe, social, sociable and sustainable destination tourism model.