Tourism, Recreation and Trail Impacts - Tourism and Trails: Cultural, Ecological and Management Issues - page 153

A final social benefit is quality time spent with friends and family. People
often use greenways and trails with loved ones, reinforcing familial and
friendship bonds. Moore and Shafer (2001) found that developing and main-
taining social relationships is a cherished social benefit of trail use that fos-
ters a sense of solidarity and creates positive emotional responses.
Economic impacts
Routes and trails are important tourism resources, and many communi-
ties use them to develop their tourist images and their tourism economies.
Numerous commentators over the years have illustrated the positive eco-
nomic impacts of route-based recreation and tourism (Betz et al. , 2003;
Gibson, 1999; Lumsdon, 1996; Meschik, 2012; Moore & Shafer, 2001;
Notaro & de Salvo, 2009; Rogerson, 2002, 2007; Schutt, 1998; Siderelis &
Moore, 1995; Spacil, 1985; Strauss & Lord, 2001; Wandres, 2000). On an
individual basis it might seem that the majority of the world's paths and
routes do not generate much economic impact directly, because the majority
of trails are remote and their users are so widely dispersed. As well, many
trail users spend relatively little money on an individual basis (Wessell, 1997),
yet aggregate trail use generates billions of dollars each year for the global
economy from direct and indirect expenditures, as well as through related
multipliers.
Although developing trails is expensive, the return on investment in
most cases appears to be worthwhile. Regarding the Path of Progress heritage
trail in Pennsylvania (USA), Strauss and Lord (2001) estimated that the
return on the $88 million the trail cost to develop had, until that point,
returned almost $300 million into the Pennsylvania economy.
In the broadest sense, the economics of trail-based tourism and recreation
can be understood from two perspectives. First, the establishment and devel-
opment of trails generates economic benefits in several ways. While the
remotest wilderness trails require little capital outlay, urban and suburban
trails (including rail-trails), site-specific paths (e.g. at outdoor museums and
in parks), less-remote hiking trails and scenic byways have capital investment
requirements. These include monies for construction equipment and materi-
als, human resource costs, land purchase and preparation, plan development
and interpretation/trail design materials. Second, once a route or trail is
established and operational, the expenditures of trail users continue to gener-
ate economic impacts in a variety of ways (Ndlovu & Rogerson, 2003). These
include regional income and job creation in corridor maintenance, interpre-
tive centers, accessory rentals along the way or near trail heads and shops,
eateries and other commercial enterprises along routes and trails. As well,
trails and greenways are frequently used as backdrops for wedding photos
and television production companies, both of which can bring in additional
money to communities and support more jobs (Iles & Wiele, 1993).