Travel Reference
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which is often a surrogate indicator of use or visitation. Fees may be required
to enter a national park or cultural site, but not everyone who enters these
areas utilizes paths and trails. A related second major limitation is a general
lack of academic research on macro-scale patterns of route and trail use.
Numerous agency-funded quantitative investigations have been carried out
using intercept surveys, post-experience surveys or automatic counter
devices. However, these assessments are rather descriptive, lacking concep-
tual depth or explanatory power, and they are site-specific case studies with
little potential for understanding trail use on regional, national or global
levels. Finally, a disproportionate sum of published and accessible research on
route and trail demand has been done in the United States (US) and the
United Kingdom (UK), and secondarily in Australia and New Zealand. This
has resulted in a dearth of information outside these countries to understand
broader global patterns of demand. Few studies have been published in the
international literature outside these countries. Thus, relatively little is
known about route visitors and their experiences in Asia, Europe, Africa and
Latin America. What has been written in these societies takes a more supply-
side approach, virtually ignoring demand and trail participation.
Against this backdrop, this chapter examines demand for trails and ties
together many divergent ways of understanding the level of use and partici-
pation in route-based tourism and leisure. The chapter commences by look-
ing at general patterns of trail-based outdoor recreation. A number of trails
are examined in-depth to illustrate levels of participation. Second, the litera-
ture on trail user characteristics is examined, reflecting on gender, age, level
of education and ethnicity. Third, trail use is examined against locational
factors. Fourth, the reasons why people use trails are considered, including per-
sonal health, fitness, quality of life and commuting. The fifth section explores
the wider issue of motivation, including nostalgia and seeking enjoyment and
meaningful experiences. Finally, non-participation is addressed, focusing on
intrapersonal, interpersonal and structural constraints.
General Trends in Demand
As noted in the last chapter, nature trails of many sorts are important
recreation and tourism resources and are increasing in popularity throughout
the world. Ecotourists or other nature enthusiasts are more inclined to hike,
view wildlife and stay longer on the trail (Hvenegaard & Dearden, 1998).
According to a study by Texas A&M University (Outdoor Foundation, 2012: 1),
approximately half of all Americans over the age of six participated in at least
one outdoor activity in 2011, comprising an estimated 11.6 billion outings.
Despite the important role of video games, online games and other internet
and technology-based activities, outdoor recreation has seen a steady growth
in the past several years. The most popular activities among young people
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