Can Tourists’ Preferences Determine the Direction of Sustainable Development in Mountain Landscapes?

Magdalena Maria Malec (), Agnieszka Ziernicka-Wojtaszek and Renata Kędzior
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Magdalena Maria Malec: Department of Ecology, Climatology and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, University of Agriculture in Kraków, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Agnieszka Ziernicka-Wojtaszek: Department of Ecology, Climatology and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, University of Agriculture in Kraków, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland
Renata Kędzior: Department of Ecology, Climatology and Air Protection, Faculty of Environmental Engineering and Land Surveying, University of Agriculture in Kraków, al. Mickiewicza 24/28, 30-059 Kraków, Poland

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 22, 1-19

Abstract: Tourism and recreation development in naturally valuable mountain areas is a complex issue. On the one hand, it has a positive impact on the physical and mental health of modern society, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. It also contributes to the economic growth of local communities, for which financial revenues from tourism are important sources of income. However, exceeding the limits of tourist absorption and improper trail management can lead to natural environment and landscape degradation. The Carpathians are marked by a dense and diverse network of tourist trails that can have an impact on biodiversity, which is often unique in this European region. The aim of the study was to determine tourists’ preferences in terms of the attractiveness and development of the mountain trails of the Carpathian region. The research was conducted using a survey on 10 main hiking trails in the Beskids. The results were compared with the inventory carried out in the field based on tourist values. The results highlight the possibility of achieving a balance between the use of tourist trails and the protection of the natural and cultural environment. Our results can be useful for the sustainable tourist management of mountain landscapes, linking nature conservation and recreation requirements.

Keywords: sustainable tourism; mountain trails; mountain landscapes; tourist attractiveness; infrastructure; Carpathian Mountains (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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