Demand for Trails and Routes - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 100

in free time and for people aged 16 and over, it is ranked eighth. Not surpris-
ing, the top five ranked free-time activities are passive forms of leisure. When
examined across age groups, sport and exercise show relatively little variation
in participation, the exception being for the last age cohort of 65 and over.
Table 4.5 provides more interesting statistics for active sports in England
by gender. The two activities that could be associated with trail environ-
ments are cycling and jogging. There are very clear differences in preference
and take-up of these two activities by gender, with men preferring these
more than women; there is some difference though in their ranking posi-
tions, but the percentage stating they engaged in this form of active sports is
the more important statistic. Nevertheless, these sets of statistics are disap-
pointing in the depth of information they can convey compared to the more
detailed breakdown of the survey by the Outdoor Foundation in the US.
Demand and participation in outdoor leisure and sports in many
Western nations, as the above information conveys, is driven by interests in
health and well-being, and the need to combat rising obesity. The impor-
tance that people place on health and fitness, gym attendance and taking
an array of classes (see Table 4.5) is a reflection on the importance of the
'self' in today's society.
The focus on the individual has for many become a new form of religion
at a time when conventional religion as expressed in church attendance has
declined considerably in many Western countries over the past quarter cen-
tury. The focus also includes people becoming more aware of their spiri-
tual selves. Many people are recommitting themselves to living their religion,
which in many cases results in increased travel for pilgrimage purposes.
Religious tourism is one of the most significant forms of tourism today, with

Table 4.5 Top 10 active sports by gender in England, 2007-2008

Men Percent Women Percent

Indoor swimming or diving 28 Indoor swimming or diving 35

Snooker, pool, billiards 23 Health, fi tness, gym or

conditioning activities

22

Cycling 21 Keepfi t, aerobics and dance exercise 16

Health, fi tness, gym or
conditioning activities

21 Outdoor swimming or diving 14

Outdoor football 20 Tenpin bowling 13

Golf, pitch and putt, putting 18 Cycling 13

Outdoor swimming or diving 16 Jogging 8

Tenpin bowling 15 Snooker, pool, billiards 7

Darts 12 Badminton 7

Jogging 12 Yoga 6

Source: Compiled from Department for Culture, Media and Sport (2010).