Landmarks and walkability: wayfinding during nighttime in a tourism-based city. Case study of Jaffna, Sri Lanka

As the contemporary tourism industry continues to evolve, tourists have witnessed a noticeable surge in the demand for nighttime activities and a pleasant walking environment to enjoy such activities. However, it is important to note that existing research on walkability predominantly focuses on daytime scenarios and the physical quality of infrastructure, leading to a limited understanding of how nighttime way-finding aids influence walkability. This study examines the visual environment, particularly by studying nighttime landmarks for walkability. The empirical study was conducted in Jaffna, a Sri Lankan city with tourism potential. The level of walkability in Jaffna City was determined using a walkability index that included residential density, road intersection density, and land use entropy. Nighttime landmarks were identified through a pedestrian perception survey. The relationship between walkability and nighttime landmarks was examined through spatial autocorrelation analysis and further reviewed through a pedestrian perception survey. The analysis revealed that the city core is walkable and that nighttime landmarks differ from daytime landmarks primarily due to illumination. Most importantly, the findings show a strong positive correlation between walkability and nighttime landmarks. These findings highlight the importance of targeted urban planning and design strategies tailored to nighttime landmarks in optimizing the urban environment for nighttime city activities.