ABSTRACT
This study examined the impact of COVID-19 on recreational walking while on vacation, a relevant activity among tourists especially in urban destinations. We surveyed visitors to Costa Daurada, an urban coastal destination in Catalonia in August 2020. Only 5% of participants reported lower recreational walking levels compared to normal circumstances;75% reported similar levels;and 20% reported higher levels. Higher recreational walking levels were associated with visiting local amenities or strolling and with a higher level of perceived safety from COVID-19 when walking. Higher perceived overcrowding was associated with less recreational walking. The pandemic may have altered recreational behavior while on vacation in urban settings especially by increasing outdoor activities such as recreational walking. If persistent, such behavioral changes could have relevant implications for both the tourism and recreation sectors and for local policymakers who aim to promote walkability while managing tourist pedestrian flows.
ABSTRACT
Touristification and smartization processes are commonly associated with economic growth strategies. Here we emphasize and demonstrate the need to consider the implication of these processes on social sustainability. Initial results imply that: (1) regions not specialized in tourism are associated with a lower share of population in poverty;and (2) regions' ‘smartness' level is negatively associated with the share of poverty. However, in regions highly specialized in tourism, smartization demonstrated an opposite association of increased intra-regional poverty. As residents' quality of life is becoming a key policy consideration, understanding the effect of these socio-economic processes on socially sustainable growth has timely implications for regional planning, including for post-COVID-19 recovery strategies.