Ökonomische Grundlagen der Wanderwege in der Schweiz

Summary ECOPLAN
Table K-1: Swiss network of hiking trails in km
Total network
42
Trails on 5th and 6th
class roads
Hiking trails 42,100 15,000
Mountain trails 23,500 18,000
Alpine trails 600 500
Total 66,200 33,500
The network comprises three different kinds of trails (hiking trails, mountain trails and alpine
trails). A trail is usually classified as one of the three kinds on the basis of the various types of
equipment and level of mountain-climbing skill required.
o) Use of the hiking trails
Hardly any statistics are available on the use of the hiking trails. This study is therefore based
on rough estimates. To start with, Switzerland has approximately 2.4 million hikers (see
Table K-2). 10 This figure was derived from a poll of the hiking habits of the Swiss population
and surveys conducted in hiking areas. It can be extrapolated from the average number of
hikes or hiking days per person and per year that the Swiss network of hiking trails is used for
some 41.5 million hiking days per year, of which 95% by the Swiss population.
Table K-2: Number of hikers and number of hiking days in Switzerland in 2008
Residence % hikers
Number
of hikers
Number of
hiking days
per person
Total
number of
hiking days
Switzerland 82% 1,960,000 20 39,240,000
Abroad 18% 430,000 5 2,260,000
Total 100% 2,390,000 17 41,500,000
The regional distribution among Switzerland‟s hiking areas was first determined in the context
of this study, which estimates the number of hikers who remain in their home canton and
figures which cantons are chosen by hikers who do not. To make these calculations, “attrac-
tiveness indicators” were drawn up for each individual hiking area on the basis of the number
of hiking-related hotel person-nights and the percentage of cabin person-nights (Swiss Alpine
10 Hiking trails are used for other recreational activities as well, such as walking, (Nordic) fitness walking, jogging,
horseback riding and mountain biking. Overall, roughly three quarters of the Swiss population use the Swiss hiking
trails occasionally. The regional economic impact of these uses, which are in addition to the main activity (hiking),
is not, however, the subject of this report.