A survey of hikers’ characteristics at prominent mountains in Malaysia - Theory and Practice in Hospitality and Tourism Research - page 214

Gua Musang, Kelantan, Gunung Jerai in Kedah,
Gunung Angsi in Negeri Sembilan and Gunung
Ledang in Johor. One of the most challenging
mountains in the country is Gunung Tahan, the
Peninsula's highest peak, which crosses over the
rainforest, rivers and mountain ridges. Hikers can
also choose to climb the Batu Caves, a limestone
outcrop with eight crags and approximately 170
routes. This formation is closer than others to the
capital, Kuala Lumpur.

images, spirits and legends. Godde, Price and Zim-
mermann (1999) reported that a scientific investi-
gation has later become a reason for philosophers
and scientists to scale the Alps.
On the aspect of risk, there are generally two cat-
egories of hikers: a soft adventure group, who scale
peaks less than 6000 metres, and a hard adventure
group, who scale peaks greater than 6000 metres
(MacLellan, Dieke & Thapa, 2000; Pomfret, 2006).
Soft adventure expeditions are mountaineering
activities with a perceived risk that requires only
basic skills and the accompaniment of skilled
guides; the hikers may be either experienced or
inexperienced. Most of the soft adventure hikers
spend fewer days on the mountains (Snowdon,
Slee, Farr & Godde, 2000). Soft adventure expe-
ditions comprise guided activities that cover an
introductory mountain climbing course for easy
trails, mainly to attract children and beginners.
Hard adventure expeditions, on the other hand,
involve a high level of risk and require serious com-
mitment and a high level of skill on the part of the
hikers. These expeditions involve climbing along
rough trails, reading maps and compasses as well
as other advanced equipment. Much of the pre-
vious research has focused on the supply aspects
of mountain tourism, exploring mountain ecol-
ogy for instance, the sustainability of mountains
as protected areas (Ranger & Turpault, 1999) and
tourism development in mountain regions (Beedie
& Hudson, 2003; Godde, et al., 1999). There is
limited research investigating the demand phase
of mountain tourism (Muhar, Schauppenlehner,
Brandenburg & Arnberger, 2007).

2.2 Defining mountain tourism
Pomfret (2011) categorised mountain tourism,
mountain hiking, mountain trekking and ice and
rock hiking in mountain regions anywhere in the
world as adventure tourism. These adventure
activities can take on a variety of sights and routes,
including ice, snow, glaciers and even tropical rain-
forests. Mountaineering can be a subset of other
tourism categories: nature based tourism (Whit-
lock, Romer & Becker, 1991), eco-tourism (John-
ston & Edwards, 1994), and adventure tourism
(Carroll, 1999; Pomfret, 2006). Currently, moun-
taineering activities have evolved globally, creating
the opportunity for industry players to generate
creative packages and inspired marketing strate-
gies for a vast growth in revenue.
A review of the literature reveals that there is
a lack of commonly accepted term use for moun-
tain climbers who recreationally scale or hike up
mountains with the specific goal of reaching the
summit (Lasco, 2009). On the other hand, a person
who performs an outdoor activity that consists of
walking in natural environments, often on hiking
trails, is termed a hiker (Heer, Rusterholz & Baur,
2003). In some countries, the mountaineer is also
a term used by climbers to characterise the types
and landscapes of the mountains (Pomfret, 2006),
thus suggesting differences in terminology that are
inevitable across cultures and countries.

3 METHODOLOGY

The methodology includes site observation, litera-
ture reviews and structured questionnaire surveys.
The data for this study were obtained through a
questionnaire-based survey that was conducted
over a 6-month period, distributed to the moun-
tain hikers who agreed to participate in a survey
regarding their hiking experiences. Hikers who had
hiked the seven most prominent mountains, known
as the G7 (Malaysia Traveller, 2014) Gunung Tahan
in Pahang, Gunung Korbu, Gunung Gayong,
Gunung Yong Belar and Gunung Yong Yap in
Perak, Gunung Camah and Gunung Ulu Sepat in
Kelantan were surveyed.
The questionnaire was provided after they com-
pleted their mountain hiking activities. The ques-
tionnaire was designed to collect a wide range of
information, including demographics (e.g., gender,
country of origin, source of promotional infor-
mation, hiking trip frequency, organisation mode
and duration of trip hiking experience), group

2.3 Hikers motivations
In mountaineering, the goal is usually to arrive
at the peak. It is a phenomenon known as a peak
experience, which leads to feelings of joy and
self-fulfilment upon reaching the summit and is
bounded in time rather than enduring over time
(Privette & Bundrick, 1991). A peak experience
is characterised as a transformational experience
and one that surpasses the usual level of intensity,
meaningfulness, and richness (Privette, 1983).
Historically, years ago, individuals hiked moun-
tains due to spiritual motives. They built altars
and houses to offer human sacrifices on the peaks.
Pfister (2000) described mountainous areas as
pure and being connected with God, consecrated