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Canyoning adventure recreation in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (Australia): The canyoners and canyoning trends over the last decade

Hardiman, Nigel, Burgin, Shelley (2011) Canyoning adventure recreation in the Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (Australia): The canyoners and canyoning trends over the last decade. Tourism Management, 32 (6). pp. 1324-1331. ISSN 0261-5177. (doi:10.1016/j.tourman.2011.01.002) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:30509)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.tourman.2011.01.002

Abstract

There is limited information on most adventure recreation activities, often including even who partake and trends in the popularity of the activity. The adventure recreation sport of ‘canyoning’ grew rapidly in the Greater Blue Mountains World Heritage Area (Australia) in the 1990s. Canyoners are typically male, aged in their 30 s, educated, and their preference is to canyon in small groups with friends and families. However the popularity of this adventure sport has waned. Surveys between 2000 and 2002 showed that while canyoner numbers were similar in 2000 and 2001, they declined in 2002. In 2010 the numbers of canyoners were similar to 2002 visitation levels, approximately 40% below 2000 levels. The trend did not appear to be due to increased interest in active/extreme sports (e.g., mountain biking). Bushwalking (hiking) was the preferred alternative recreational activity for over 20% of canyoners at all experience levels. The trends observed between 2000 and 2010 parallel the overall number of tourists to the region, and the commercial canyoning activity. We conclude that at current and projected levels of canyoning, there is not an immediate threat to the canyon environment.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1016/j.tourman.2011.01.002
Uncontrolled keywords: Visitor profile; Recreation trends; Wilderness recreation; Adventure tourism; Commercial tourism; Park management; Extreme sport; Commercial canyoning; Canyoneering
Subjects: G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation
Divisions: Divisions > Division of Human and Social Sciences > School of Anthropology and Conservation > DICE (Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology)
Depositing User: N.J. Hardiman
Date Deposited: 18 Sep 2012 10:29 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 10:08 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/30509 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

University of Kent Author Information

Hardiman, Nigel.

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