Can trail characteristics influence visitor numbers in natural protected areas? A quantitative approach to trail choice assessment

Svobodova Kamila (), Monteiro Luis, Vojar Jiri and Gdulova Katerina
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Svobodova Kamila: Centre for Social Responsibility in Mining, Sustainable Mineral Institute, The University of Queensland, St Lucia Campus, QLD, 4072, Australia
Monteiro Luis: Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 1176, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic
Vojar Jiri: Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 1176, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic
Gdulova Katerina: Faculty of Environmental Sciences, Czech University of Life Sciences Prague, Kamycka 1176, 16521 Prague 6, Czech Republic

Environmental & Socio-economic Studies, 2019, vol. 7, issue 2, 10-20

Abstract: Planning for recreational activities in protected areas involves an understanding of multiple and complex factors. Trails constitute the main recreation facility in protected areas. They are an important and common infrastructure that concentrates visitor movement. Their sustainable planning and management requires an understanding of how the visitors made their selection. The aim of this study was to identify the effect of trail attributes on visitor numbers in the Krkonoše Mountains National Park in the Czech Republic. The methods used in this study present an analytical approach involving geographic information system analysis, field monitoring and data analyses using generalised linear models. The results showed the preferential tendencies among visitors to certain trail attributes. Marginal significance and a rather strong variability in preferences (over 10%) were identified for five trail characteristics: the amount of local attractions; diversity of land cover types; dominant land cover along a trail; soil erosion; and the type of trail surface. In our study, we illustrate an analytical framework for the assessment of trail characteristics that can help guide trail analyses and management efforts. On the other hand, our findings raise new research questions and point to the requirements for further research in order to better understand how environmental attributes influence visitor choice and to use this knowledge for trail planning and management.

Keywords: tourism; route attributes; trail research; nature conservation; Krkonoše Mountains National Park (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:vrs:enviro:v:7:y:2019:i:2:p:10-20:n:2

DOI: 10.2478/environ-2019-0008

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