Demand for Trails and Routes - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 125

leisure and recreation, characteristics of trail users, elements of location, trail
uses, experiences sought, enjoyment and satisfaction, and barriers to use.
The weighting of each of these factors of course varies; some are less impor-
tant than others. For instance, the ability to separate recreational day users
from tourists is not a major factor in determining ongoing demand where
trails and routes are concerned. This differentiation is not a major issue given
that expected use of urban greenways will be overwhelmingly by locals, and
urban trails of significant cultural and heritage interest, such as the Boston
Freedom Trail, are frequented by tourists more than residents. The same will
apply to rural trails where level of use is influenced by where the consumer
lives. It is not surprising that most users of long-distance walking trails are
local residents, frequenting trails as part of an exercise routine, social situa-
tion or mode of transportation.
The importance of providing enjoyable and satisfying experiences is
critical in determining future levels of demand, since today's tourists and
recreationists increasingly seek these as standard requirements of any trail-
based opportunity. Other important factors of demand include trail quality
and reasons for engagement, be they nostalgia or simply a greater willingness
to learn about nature or heritage. A final point of note is that if trails and
routes are to become a larger part of the wider experience economy, overcom-
ing the barriers for non-participation still remains a challenge. As noted ear-
lier in the chapter these barriers can include crowding, safety, a general lack
of physical fitness, or a disability that prevents participation. Some of these
constraints are easier to overcome than others. A pressing concern is that
current trends in levels of activity, particularly in Western countries, reflect
wider leisure patterns that are more passive than active, indoors-focused
rather than outdoors-oriented, and focused more on technology and com-
munications than on participation in sports and can mean less demand for
trails and routes.