How Suitable is the Historic Downtown of Juarez, Mexico for Walking Tourism?
摘要
Walking tourism is a relevant topic in tourism studies. To move from one point to another, tourists use access roads, sidewalks, promenades, parks, esplanades and passageways. The city’s historical center represents a tourist, patrimonial and cultural resource of great esteem because it reflects the identity and values of the locality. This research analyzes the levels of walkability, access routes and obstacles in the Historic Center of Juarez, Mexico. The study involved 250 tourists and visitors staying in the Historic Center of Juarez during April, May and June 2023. The data were collected through a questionnaire composed of 39 questions that addressed various variables, such as forms of access, travel time, motivations for visiting the historic center, perception of signage, presence of technologies, fixed and mobile obstacles, and safety aspects. The results revealed low levels of walkability, with serious accessibility problems for pedestrians and people with disabilities. It is concluded that conditions prevail in the historic center of Juarez that prevent this area from being a walkable tourist attraction for residents, tourists and visitors.