Tourist Walkability in Traditional Villages: The Role of Built Environment, Shareability, and Personal Attributes

Tze Ming Leung, Siyu Miao, Minqi Lin, Huiying (Cynthia) Hou and Ming Sun ()
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Tze Ming Leung: Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent Protection and Utilization Technology in Stone and Brick Cultural Relics, Hunan University of Science and Engineering, Yongzhou 425199, China
Siyu Miao: School of Economics and Management, Hunan University of Science and Engineering, Yongzhou 425199, China
Minqi Lin: Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
Huiying (Cynthia) Hou: Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hung Hom, Kowloon, Hong Kong SAR, China
Ming Sun: Hunan Provincial Key Laboratory of Intelligent Protection and Utilization Technology in Stone and Brick Cultural Relics, Hunan University of Science and Engineering, Yongzhou 425199, China

Sustainability, 2025, vol. 17, issue 12, 1-27

Abstract: Tourist walkability is essential for sustainable tourism in traditional villages, where walking is often the primary mode of exploration. However, few studies have examined walkability from tourists’ perspectives, especially in village settings. This study investigates how immediate built environment perceptions, shareability (defined as the capacity of a place to encourage social media sharing), and personal attributes affect tourist walkability in traditional villages. A questionnaire survey was conducted in two traditional villages in Yongzhou, Hunan, to explore these relationships. The results reveal that the perceived quantity of traditional architecture strongly influences tourist walkability, while among built environment features, artificial features exert a greater overall impact than natural ones. Moreover, shareability plays a significant role in enhancing walkability, whereas personal attributes, though influential, have a relatively smaller effect. As the majority of survey participants were aged 18–24, these findings are particularly relevant to understanding the tourism preferences of Generation Z, a cohort with growing influence in the tourism market. These insights provide valuable guidance for designers, tourism developers, and authorities aiming to enhance walkability, promote sustainable tourism, and revitalise culturally rich traditional villages.

Keywords: tourist walkability; sustainable tourism; traditional villages; village revitalisation; shareability (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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