Built environment and urban cruise tourists' mobility

• Published in: Annals of tourism research Vol. 81; p. 102889
• Main Authors: Domènech, Antoni, Gutiérrez, Aaron, Anton Clavé, Salvador
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.03.2020
• Subjects: Cruise tourism; GIS; GPS; Space syntax; Spatial analysis; Tourist mobility; GIS; Cruise tourism; Spatial analysis; GPS; Tourist mobility; Space syntax
• ISSN: 0160-7383; 1873-7722
• DOI: 10.1016/j.annals.2020.102889

The article studies the relationship between the characteristics of the built environment and the spatial behaviour of cruise passengers in a city. For this purpose, the mobility of cruise passengers visiting the city of Tarragona (Catalonia) is monitored by means of GPS tracking technologies and analysed through the use of GIS. Consideration has been given to diverse and multiple indicators related to the syntax of the urban space, its physical attributes, the economic activity and the visibility of tourist points of interest. Results show that the visibility of tourist points of interest and the type of economic activity have more influence than other factors related to the characteristics of the urban layout. The resulting information is particularly valuable for city management. •Relationship between urban built environment and spatial behaviour is studied.•Cruise passengers' mobility in a city is monitored using GPS tracking technologies.•Space syntax and walkability measures are used to analyse cruise tourists' mobility.•Few factors determine cruise passengers' spatial behaviour in the city.•Key factors are visibility of tourist points of interest and economic activity.