Planning Nature-based Hiking Trails in a Tropical Rainforest Setting

Abstract

Tropical rainforests are under threat and tourism has been identified as one industry that has some potential to add value to this important natural resource. This paper examines how nature-based hiking trails may be developed in a sustainable manner within a planning framework that recognizes the role of inputs and outputs. Consideration of inputs is restricted to visitor demand for hiking experiences and consideration of outputs is similarly restricted to measuring the satisfaction of the hiking experience, although it is acknowledged that the impact of hiking on the ecosystem is also important. A case study approach is adopted, based on an assessment in 2007 of visitor demand and satisfaction with hiking trails in Australia's World Heritage tropical rainforest.