Perception of Visitors and Residents on Pedestrian Environment of Heritage Cities

Abstract

A heritage city is an urban agglomeration with one or more World Heritage Sites (Roders 2010; Roders and Van Oers 2011). Most heritage sites are car-free destinations in China because the roads in heritage cities are generally narrow. This study examines the ratings of environmental factors and perception of the environment of Gulangyu, China, by both residents and visitors and analyses how different groups perceive the environment while walking. The purpose of this research is to create a more functional walking environment and to achieve a balance between the needs of both groups. Two analytical methods - correlation and logistic regression - were used to analyse the environmental factors and walking perceptions using SPSS software. The logistic regression analysis suggests creating a more pedestrian-friendly environment for residents. Attention should be paid to five factors: comfort level, lighting, building maintenance, commercial attractiveness, and historic buildings. The four factors significantly impacting visitors' walking experience are road cleanliness, the indicating system, building facades along the street, and walking pleasure. The differences in the walking perceptions of residents and visitors suggest that the different purposes of walking for different types of people can lead to different concerns and experiences of the environment.