Mobility and accessibility concerns for tourists in Tel Aviv-Jaffa area

This research aims to study the mobility and accessibility challenges tourists confront within a central tourist district. The subjects of mobility and accessibility have been studied extensively, particularly in relation to individual commuting flows, or shopping. However, for both commuting and shopping activities, individuals are dealing with a familiar area. On the other hand, the tourist's spatial experience occurs in a far less known environment and has less been examined. The study focuses on the domestic tourist experience in the Tel-Aviv-Jaffa area. In depth face-to-face interviews were conducted to evaluate how considerations of spatial mobility and accessibility are perceived among domestic tourists in comparison to other aspects of the tourist experience. In addition, interviews with planners and policy makers on the municipal and national levels were conducted to evaluate the services given to tourists, existing and future plans, and the care for tourists' needs. The research depicts that the spatial mobility challenges tourists face have a great influence on tourist satisfaction, even greater than the tourist product itself. Moreover, the study points to the correlation between land-use density in tourist places of residence and their perception of spatial challenges.