On the move: Emerging fields of transport research in urban tourism

Abstract

Urban centres and metropolitan regions have become increasingly prominent amongst tourist destination choice, at the same time they are in many cases characterised by huge transport and accessibility problems in the form of traffic congestions, packed public transport systems and overcrowded pedestrian zones. Therefore the contribution aims at a broader understanding of the interrelation of tourism and transport studies, when it comes to dealing with urban tourism development. The article will address sociological aspects such as the blurring nature of tourists and residents, as well as psychological issues in relation to the role of identity and motivations when it comes to transport behaviour, and last but not least technical changes and innovations such as intermodality and the growing role of e-ticketing systems. Resulting in a brief research agenda on transport related topics in the context of urban tourism studies.