Digital technologies in trail-related recreation: Future challenges for trail development

Within the current digital era fundamental changes to the entire tourism industry due to applications of digital technologies have accelerated dramatically, including within the space of trail-related recreation. In view of these changes, it is essential to consider what role digital technologies play in trail-related recreation management. Consequently, this chapter aims to review the application of digital technologies in trail-related recreation, extract the main dimensions of their applications, and discuss the principal future challenges in recreational trail management and development. A qualitative literature review analysis approach was applied to the use of digital technologies in nature-based tourism. A qualitative coding analysis was then applied to extract the main dimensions of digital technology applications and future challenges. This study reveals that there are a number of significant challenges for future trail management and opens new avenues for future research in order to develop potential solutions to these challenges. This study brings a theoretical contribution to sustainable recreational trail management in the face of the digital technology era and the growing demand for outdoor recreation. The results of the study may be highly useful to park and trail managers, nature-based recreation oriented businesses, nature-based recreation scholars, and associated groups.