Hierarchy of Hiking Trails using the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) to highlight the natural environment

Hiking on trails is an activity to improve the quality of human life, a strategy for the development of the tourist activity and highlighting the natural wealth of region. The present study deals with the hiking trails of the Municipality of Samothrace (Eastern Macedonia and Thrace, Greece). In this study, the trails were classified based on criteria with the contribution of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) method, which determined the weights of the criteria. Seven criteria (Starting Elevation, Summit Elevation, Slope, Degree of Difficulty, Length, Hiking Time, and Starting Point Distance from the City) which are considered important for the selection of a hiking trail by hikers were compared pairwise and based on the results the hiking trails classified. The Analytical Hierarchy Process can help and guide both managers and people who make decisions about the sustainable use and protection of the natural environment, and hikers who consider the criteria for trail selection. In this way, priorities can be set for the maintenance of existing trails and the design of new ones.