Changing habits and pro-environmental behaviour became central discussion in the field of tourism. Yet, engagement in sustainable behaviour in a leisure setting not expected to happen voluntarily. A wide range of policy instruments can affect tourist behaviour; from more rigorous economic and regulatory instruments to alter consumption, to more liberal complementary approaches, such as nudging towards the ‘right’ behaviour. Besides initiatives addressing the industry directly, interventions primarily created for residents at the host destination can affect tourist behaviour as well. As more than 70% of CO2 emissions are generated in cities, climate actions in urban planning gained particular importance in the EU. Cities committed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 aim to balance the amount of GHG they emit to the atmosphere with the amount they remove within a specific timeframe. Therefore, cities requalification projects are based on the mitigation of emissions and the adaptation to the effects of climate change. In cities, where tourism plays a relevant role, decarbonization plans should develop in line with the tourism policies. In particular, the planning should consider the tourist usage of diverse neighbourhoods of a destination, and the seasonal pressure on their facilities. The focus of the current research is a coastal regeneration project in the Italian seaside destination of Rimini. The city’s 15 km’s long coastline is filled with bathing establishments that were previously bordered with a long road and parking places. The new Sea park (Parco del Mare) of Rimini takes over this grey infrastructure and transforms the area into green spaces, sport facilities and lanes for soft mobilities. Survey data collected from more than 200 tourists that visited the destination, reveal the use of this new green infrastructure, its perceived sustainable benefits, and its contribution to a new destination image. Managerial implications are derived for city planning, destination management and marketing.
Judit Zoltan (2024). The effect of urban requalification on tourists’ perception and behaviour.
The effect of urban requalification on tourists’ perception and behaviour
Judit Zoltan
2024
Abstract
Changing habits and pro-environmental behaviour became central discussion in the field of tourism. Yet, engagement in sustainable behaviour in a leisure setting not expected to happen voluntarily. A wide range of policy instruments can affect tourist behaviour; from more rigorous economic and regulatory instruments to alter consumption, to more liberal complementary approaches, such as nudging towards the ‘right’ behaviour. Besides initiatives addressing the industry directly, interventions primarily created for residents at the host destination can affect tourist behaviour as well. As more than 70% of CO2 emissions are generated in cities, climate actions in urban planning gained particular importance in the EU. Cities committed to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050 aim to balance the amount of GHG they emit to the atmosphere with the amount they remove within a specific timeframe. Therefore, cities requalification projects are based on the mitigation of emissions and the adaptation to the effects of climate change. In cities, where tourism plays a relevant role, decarbonization plans should develop in line with the tourism policies. In particular, the planning should consider the tourist usage of diverse neighbourhoods of a destination, and the seasonal pressure on their facilities. The focus of the current research is a coastal regeneration project in the Italian seaside destination of Rimini. The city’s 15 km’s long coastline is filled with bathing establishments that were previously bordered with a long road and parking places. The new Sea park (Parco del Mare) of Rimini takes over this grey infrastructure and transforms the area into green spaces, sport facilities and lanes for soft mobilities. Survey data collected from more than 200 tourists that visited the destination, reveal the use of this new green infrastructure, its perceived sustainable benefits, and its contribution to a new destination image. Managerial implications are derived for city planning, destination management and marketing.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
