Turning Local Trails Into Sustainable Tourism Products
Trails are vital for towns, offering economic, social, environmental, and health benefits. They boost tourism, raise property values, and create jobs while promoting physical activity, mental well-being, and community interaction. Trails protect natural habitats, support eco-friendly transportation, and offer educational opportunities about local ecosystems.
They enhance cultural and recreational appeal by hosting outdoor activities, preserving heritage, and facilitating events. By investing in trails, towns foster healthier, more vibrant communities while attracting visitors, residents, and sustainable growth.
OutActive (previously known as the Green Sport Foundation) has a proven track record in turning ‘Trails to Tourism’ and successfully packaging, expanding and promoting local trails into a sustainable tourism product with many benefits. we can do the same for your city or town. All projects are done in partnership with local government and stakeholders.
CASE STUDY
“In 2015 we established George Trails in George, a town in the Garden Route region of South Africa. Tourists always asked where they could go run, ride and hike and often got lost in the mountain.
Local trails and off-road routes were mapped and the information was packaged and placed on the website where the GPX files could be downloaded for self-navigation. Providing quality trail information impacted both locals and visitors alike, getting people off the couch and into nature because they had the confidence to do so.
The project was such a tourism success story that it received funding from provincial and local government for expansion. It boasts more than 2000 kms of routes making it the largest project of its kind in Africa (and maybe the World).
Today George is really on the map for its outdoors and nature offerings. Its slogan was recently changed to ‘George Naturally’ and it hosts an international trail run and many other events. The local community is really board and George has thriving mountain bike, trail running and hiking clubs. George Trails (georgetrails.org.za) is a success story helping to draw thousands of tourists to the town, annually. This of course results in many economic and health benefits for the community.”
