An assessment of value dimensions in hiking tourism: Pathways toward quality of life

Abstract

Abstract Enhancing quality of life is one of the primary motives for people to participate in tourism activities. Particularly, hiking tourism has become increasingly popular in recent years due to its benefits on tourists' physical and mental health. Focusing on the context of hiking tourism, this study examined the role of tourists' perceived value on their quality of life through the engagement and connections with nature. Data were collected from hikers in the Astraka Refuge between two mountains, Astraka and Lapatos, in Greece. The results indicated that tourists' perceived value influences their engagement in hiking tourism and connections with nature, which further lead to their quality of life. This study enriches the literature of quality of life by the investigation of the term in the hiking tourism context. The results also provide suggestions for destination marketers to promote hiking tourism.