Walkability as a measure of the attractiveness of tourist walking itineraries

Active mobility has long been overlooked compared to conventional means of transportation. However, both research and institutions now recognize its importance for a balanced and sustainable transportation system, crucial for human and environmental health. Active mobility is often seen in the context of everyday mobility, but it is increasingly significant for leisure mobility, particularly in tourism. Academic research has primarily focused on urban paths or rural hiking trails, neglecting tourist itineraries that blend urban and rural environments, such as the Camino de Santiago or the Via Francigena. This paper proposes an extension of the walkability concept to rural contexts, particularly in relation to infrastructure for pedestrian tourism mobility (Walking Tourism). This research, grounded in comprehensive on-site analysis, focus groups with organizers of Calabrian pedestrian itineraries, and surveys with users from both national and international backgrounds, is framed within the context of active mobility for sustainable tourism. Key aspects such as itinerary quality, surrounding environment, and available infrastructures are examined alongside socio-demographic characteristics and travel habits to uncover the varying importance of these attributes for pedestrians and their satisfaction. A methodology for assessing the Attractiveness of the itineraries is proposed, highlighting a shift in walkers' priorities, with factors like landscape quality gaining importance over traditionally significant aspects like support services. The study tested this method on the Paths and Ways Network in Calabria ranking them based on their appeal. Additionally, a strategic intervention framework is proposed, correlating walking attributes with satisfaction levels to guide effective planning and promotion of itineraries in order to develop sustainable tourism mobility. The case study on the itineraries in the Calabria region highlights how the method can be extended to other similar itineraries. Moreover, this research lays the foundational groundwork for subsequent simulations of walking itineraries, further supporting future developments in walking tourism and sustainable mobility.