Route tourism: a narrative literature review

Route tourism has received little attention and only a few studies have addressed the challenges and opportunities of developing specific itineraries. Through a narrative literature review, this paper assesses the state-of-the-art knowledge by exploring definitions of route tourism, their main features and some emerging themes regarding route tourism. The analysis of definitions indicates three main dimensions of route tourism in terms of area, attractions and activities. While route tourism is principally regarded for its capacity to raise the value of cultural heritage, features of specific routes vary in terms of infrastructure and development. Research highlights distinct measures for the successful development of tourist routes. Emerging trends stress the relevance of more personalized options, themed tourist routes and the existence of a network structure. The survey of existing literature opens new avenues for research in this domain and its potential for development.