Hiking in European Mountains : Trends and Horizons

Nature sports in general and hiking in particular have become, in our urban andpost-industrial societies, a growing phenomenon practiced by millions of citizens. The motivations and interests of this large group are varied, but they have a commonelement: to disconnect from stressful modern life and reconnect with nature. National parks and other protected areas are the preferred destinations, but theypresent an challenging contrast for land management: conservation versus tourist use.

Whileonce considered a romantic practice of escape and discovery, hiking is now a consumerproduct and a tourist experience.

It promises experiences of disconnection, quiet andhealth; yet, natural spaces are increasingly scarce and more often than not they arecrowded by other recreationalists. This book presents a multidisciplinary perspective on the latest trends and developmentsin hiking.

In particular, the authors work from a European perspective withvarious outdoor recreation models represented and different conservation initiativesexplored 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 managedproperly.