Tourism and the Public Realm:Some observations

Dr Simon C WoodwardSenior Research Fellow, ICRT

How will I fill 15 minutes?

The contribution of urban realm to the tourist experience

‘Frontspace’ and ‘backspace’ - conflicts over access to public space

Points to consider

Contribution of urban realm to the tourist experience As a backdrop/

foreground to monuments and buildings

As a location for events As an attraction in its own

right As an ‘accidental’ element

of the overall experience

Urban realm as a backdrop to the sense of place

Iconic urban realm

Using urban realm for one-off events

Urban realm and regular events: Bab Makina, Fès, Morocco

Using improvements to create a new destination: Al Azhar Park, Cairo

Darb Al Ahmar neighbourhood, Cairo

Cleary Gardens, City of London

The Square, Brussels, Belgium

The Grand Tour in York™

Incidental uses of urban realm

The ‘domestication by cappucino’ of urban spaces (Atkinson, 2003)

Other conflicts over access to urban realm

Frontspace and backspace How appropriate is it for

tourists to wander round people’s ‘backyards’?

At what point does interest become intrusion?

How can we raise awareness of acceptable limits?

Saltaire World Heritage Site, West Yorkshire

How should tourists behave in a residential area? Is this ever public space?

Some points to consider

Thoughtful design obviously adds to the sense of place

We can use urban realm works to create destinations that appeal to both tourists &locals

People will always adapt space to suit their own needs

We must consider the needs of locals as well as tourists – are there limits to where tourists should go?