Space for Recreation & Tourism: A Guideline for Spatial Planning
Space in the Netherlands is scarce, and recreation and tourism are often left out of spatial planning. This guideline shows professionals how to connect recreation and tourism with the spatial domain, to create places that are valuable for both residents and visitors.
Project duration: 2022 – 2023
The challenge
The quality of the living environment determines how attractive a place is for recreation and tourism, and recreation needs space. Yet with a growing population, rising recreational pressure and shrinking green areas, recreation and tourism are rarely considered in spatial plans.
Without action, hotspots will become more crowded, the shortage of recreational space will grow and good plans may lack the experience value they need.
Our approach
The project team interviewed leading figures from recreation and tourism, urban and spatial planning, and related fields such as water management, project development and programme management. Stefan Hartman and Jasper Heslinga (ETFI) wrote the guideline together with partners from HZ, BUas and For the Love of Place, and CELTH took care of the design and publication.
The impact
The guideline, published by CELTH, is a practical handbook for government officials who want to integrate recreation and tourism into spatial planning, covering themes from nature and water to housing and heritage. It was used in a workshop at the national Tourism Summit 2023 and presented at various events, including for the municipality of Tilburg.
Read more: https://www.celth.nl/actueel/nieuwe-publicatie-leidraad-ruimte-voor-recreatie-toerisme
What could we discover together?
Whether you have a research question, a project idea or an interest in collaborating, we'd love to hear from you.
Contact our team!