Hiking in European Mountains

Trends and Horizons

161 Seiten, Hardcover

Kurzbeschreibung des Verlags

Nature sports in general and hiking in particular have become, in our urban and post-industrial societies, a growing phenomenon practiced by millions of citizens. The motivations and interests of this large group are varied, but they have a common element: to disconnect from stressful modern life and reconnect with nature. National parks and other protected areas are the preferred destinations, but they present an challenging contrast for land management: conservation versus tourist use. While once considered a romantic practice of escape and discovery, hiking is now a consumer product and a tourist experience. It promises experiences of disconnection, quiet and health; yet, natural spaces are increasingly scarce and more often than not they are crowded by other recreationalists. This book presents a multidisciplinary perspective on the latest trends and developments in hiking. In particular, the authors work from a European perspective with various outdoor recreation models represented and different conservation initiatives explored in the contexts of Spain, Norway, Poland, Germany and Lebanon. Collectively, the authors attend to hiking as a social phenomenon and economic opportunity, which has the potential to sustainably revitalize rural destinations, if managed properly.

• Reihe: De Gruyter Studies in Tourism
• Themen: Wirtschaftswissenschaft, Finanzen, Betriebswirtschaft und Management Industrien und Branchenstudien Dienstleistungsgewerbe, Gastgewerbe Gastgewerbe, Sport-, Freizeit- und Tourismusindustrie
• ISBN: 9783110660159
• Sprache: Englisch
• Erscheinungsdatum: 20.07.2020
• Größe: 24 x 17 cm
• Verlag: De Gruyter
• Herausgegeben von: Pablo Vidal-González