Walking tours: A tool for advocacy and neighborhood recreation and tourism appreciation

Abstract

Using the lens of intersectional equity, the paper investigates the role of walking tours as a means of advocating for better pedestrian experience and local tourism appreciation. Due to the exploratory nature of the study, a qualitative case study approach using document analysis was adopted. The case of advocacy walks such as Jane's Walk, and local tourism walks such as the school-led tourism walk in the urban settings of the Philippines was explored. The findings show how the context and the social processes involved in walking tours influence intersecting effects of age, disability, and gender but are not generally considered in itinerary planning. The paper concludes that walking using Crenshaw's intersectionality approach could be applied to amplify the advocacy and could be utilized as an initial tool for neighborhood recreation and tourism appreciation and notes the value of a qualitative approach for the needed policy and planning change.