Norgate, SH and Ormerod, M 'Landmarks in tourist wayfinding: a review' , ICE Urban Design & Planning . (In Press)

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Abstract

Demographic trends project a significant expansion of European urban populations to 2030, leading to expanding cities being marketed as desirable tourist destinations, particularly for short citybreaks. In turn, this renders the promotion of efficient, effective and satisfactory visitor wayfinding experiences as potentially lucrative to regional visitor economies, a point reflected in current U.K. Government Tourism Policy (2011). This paper reviews key outcomes from multidisciplinary research into wayfinding behaviours and acquired spatial knowledge in unfamiliar large scale urban environments, placing emphasis on the importance of landmarks. The rationale is that understanding the relationships between wayfinding and the features of the urban built environment facilitates informed design of potential built interventions. For this purpose, we review those studies involving virtual urban environments, to assess the role of landmarks as aids to navigation. In addition, given the emphasis on visual access to landmarks, we address issues impacting on tourists who are visually impaired. Implications for interventions in urban areas for tourists are considered.

Available Versions of this Item

• Landmarks in tourist wayfinding: a review. (deposited 04 May 2011 10:29)
  • Landmarks in tourist wayfinding: a review. (deposited 24 Jun 2011 09:44)[Currently Displayed]

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