The analog use of digital trails –Walking practices along the French shores in the digital era

Studies on walking activities aim mainly to categorize and understand their related commodity consumption, but rarely consider the effect of digital tool use, which is becoming increasingly widespread among the French population. The objective of the study is to analyze practitioners’ use of digital tools on walking trails which provide sources of digital information. To do so, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted along two digital coastal trails (n = 589). Results show that 39% of respondents use digital devices during their visit, mainly for digital maps, geo-localization, itinerary tracking, and as cameras. Significant differences exist between walkers who visit the site for the first time, and those who already have previous experience of it. Visitors show little interest in information about the walking activities and the sites visited, and they practically never share their experiences on social media.