Funding Sustainable Paddle Trail Development: Paddler Perspectives, Willingness To Pay And Management Implications

ASU Author/Contributor (non-ASU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)
Carol Kline PhD, Associate Professor (Creator)
Institution
Appalachian State University (ASU )
Web Site: https://library.appstate.edu/

Abstract: Paddle sports (kayaking, canoeing) are a growing tourism niche and an activity that can bring sustainable rural tourism development and economic regeneration. Managing sustainable paddle trail growth is complex, involving coordination among government bodies, consensus from landowners and funding acquisition for safe access sites, signage, maps and other amenities. This paper explores the paddle-trail-related literature and the many different funding options to manage the creation and maintenance of paddle trails. An Internet survey of 1851 respondents determined support for a variety of user funding mechanisms for trail development as well as paddler perceptions about trail development as a viable form of economic development. The results indicate that women and recreational paddlers are more likely to support funding mechanisms, in addition to paddlers who consider paddle trail development a form of economic development. Paddlers who did not support any user funding mechanism were male, employed in the private sector, avid paddlers, and those who owned boats. It is observed that awareness of paddle trails’ value as an economic regeneration tool increases the willingness to pay. A range of management implications from this research are discussed, including information and educational programs, marketing partnerships and targeted incentive offers to those groups that are unwillingto pay.

Additional Information

Publication
Carol Kline, David Cardenas, Lauren Duffy & Jason R. Swanson (2012) Funding sustainable paddle trail development: paddler perspectives, willingness to pay and management implications, Journal of Sustainable Tourism, 20:2, 235-256, DOI: 10.1080/09669582.2011.603425. Publisher version of record available at: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/09669582.2011.603425
Language: English
Date: 2011
Keywords
paddle trail, funding, fees, resource management, economic development, tourism

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