The role of trails in the creation of tourist space

Abstract

Trails and routes are increasingly ubiquitous features within the tourism landscape and although their role and usefulness as applied tourism products has been analysed, they remain undertheorized within the academic literature. This article addresses this gap by exploring the role of trails within the socio-cultural construction of space. In particular, the potential function of trails in creating themed, static spaces is analysed and the concept of museumisation is employed to further illustrate the capacity of trails to reconfigure spaces within specific cultural framings which may exclude local identity and yet are consumed by the unquestioning visitor. However, the article goes on to use more recent paradigms such as tourism's performance turn and the associated concept of embodiment to further explore the trail's potency in promoting a more engaged, multi-vocal and sensory experience of place. Using these contemporary approaches to the role of the tourist and the cultural construction of place, the article employs a range of examples to argue for the efficacy of trails as flexible, interpretive tools that allow a multiplicity of stories to be told and encourage visitors towards a more engaged interaction within the spaces through which they tour.

Negotiating Improved Multifunctional Landscape Use: Trails as Facilitators for Collaboration Among Stakeholders

“…As land-use is becoming increasingly diverse and where commercial and recreational interests compete for the same space [19,28], future research should continue to examine what role existing resources in multifunctional landscape can play in balancing such interests. As MacLeod [97] argued, the trail is under-theorised within scientific research and there are reasons to believe that the trail will become an increasingly important feature in the planning and management of natural areas through channeling and interpretation. Although the results from this specific study area are not generalizable, they are likely applicable to other landscapes, thereby possibly providing an introduction to further investigations of trails (or other resources) in the context of land-use conflict management.…”

Hiking Tourism in Spain: Origins, Issues and Transformations

“…Hiking tourism promotes a slow consumption of territory (an active form of slow tourism) through adapted routes, which are equipped in their immediate vicinity with heritage resources and specialized tourist services and facilities. However as various authors point out, the brief history of this form of tourism has shown that it is not enough to develop hiking holiday ideas based solely on the provision of high-quality facilities and services or involving the creation of routes through attractive, picturesque landscapes [23,24], it is also necessary to concentrate on the design and creation of memorable experiences within a dynamic setting [25][26][27].…”

A Usable and People-Friendly Cultural Heritage: MAGNA Project, on the Route from Greece to Magna Graecia

“…Today trails and routes are increasingly commonplace tourism products that have remained under-theorised within the academic literature. MacLeod [2] suggested that trails possess characteristics that may lead to the further theming and museumisation of tourist spaces, creating static places of consumption aimed outwardly at the visitor economy. However, through the use of recent examples to illustrate the performance turn in tourism studies, MacLeod [2] proposes that trails can be utilised to increase visitors' and local communities' appreciation and active engagement with places.…”

“…MacLeod [2] suggested that trails possess characteristics that may lead to the further theming and museumisation of tourist spaces, creating static places of consumption aimed outwardly at the visitor economy. However, through the use of recent examples to illustrate the performance turn in tourism studies, MacLeod [2] proposes that trails can be utilised to increase visitors' and local communities' appreciation and active engagement with places. In particular, the flexibility of trails to incorporate both tangible and more experiential place-based features in their storytelling is highlighted, suggesting that these popular attractions can contribute to a much more nuanced and rewarding experience of the place.…”

“…In particular, the flexibility of trails to incorporate both tangible and more experiential place-based features in their storytelling is highlighted, suggesting that these popular attractions can contribute to a much more nuanced and rewarding experience of the place. Trails are multi-faceted constructs that would benefit from more scholarly attention to their socio-cultural significance for tourism and wider society [2].…”