Research
We have published research into three aspects of leisure travel.
Research Report 014 and Research Information Note 014, 'The Impacts of Leisure Travel'
, examine the environmental impacts resulting from leisure travel and the social and economic benefits from more sustainable forms of travel. It also outlines some options for mitigation and information on potential funding sources.Research Report 021 and Research Information Note 021, 'Good Practice in Sustainable Leisure Travel: Twenty case studies'
, provide a review of good practice, as demonstrated by a number of individual schemes.Research Report 022 and Research Information Note 022, 'Visitor Travel Plans for Countryside Leisure Facilities'
, provide guidance on how to produce such plans.
We have also part funded with Cumbria Tourism and the Friends of the Lake District a joint piece of research entitled "What Makes You Move?" This examines how best to reduce the environmental burden of visitors to the Lake District National Park while maintaining economic benefit.
Sustainable Lesiure Travel Network
Since 2008, Natural England has facilitated and part-funded the management and maintenance of a national sustainable leisure travel network known as VisTrav. This is managed by The Institute of Transport and Tourism at the University of Central Lancashire. The aim of the network is to facilitate the networking of practitioners and others interested in the topic of leisure travel so that they can share information, good practice and research proposals and outputs. The network comprises a website, an e-network and a regular e-bulletin, and it organises and hosts a number of workshop type events.
