Discovering the role of informal transport in tourism in developing countries

抄録

Informal transport is a dominant and ubiquitous form of public transport in cities of the developing world. Yet, little is known about its role in tourism. Literature on public transport use in tourism destinations is replete with research from developed countries that focus on formal public transport modes, like trains and buses. While the limited tourism transport studies set in developing countries foreground tourists’ perspectives and the environmental impacts of tourist transport. This paper addresses this gap and contributes to informal transport literature in two ways. First, it examines the role of informal transport in tourism from the perspective of its suppliers, particularly the informal transport drivers. Second, it interrogates the tourism services they provide. The insights generated in this paper are based on a comprehensive review of relevant literature, and they can potentially inform tourism transport research and planning, especially in tourism destinations of the developing world.