Economic impacts of trail destinations: The case of the Peaks of the Balkans trail

This study quantifies the economic impact of the Peaks of the Balkans (PoB) Trail, a 192 km transnational hiking trail in Albania, Kosovo, and Montenegro, on rural mountain regions in the post-pandemic Anthropocene. Using Hubert Job's Value-Added Analysis (VAA), the research integrates electronic visitor counting (2024) and expenditure surveys (2023) to estimate visitor numbers, spending patterns, and primary and secondary local income effects. Results show approximately 43,075 hikers annually, with an average daily expenditure of EUR 73.93 per person. The trail generates an estimated EUR 25.48 million in gross annual turnover, contributing EUR 16.28 million in local income effects and supporting the equivalent of 1380 full-time jobs. The findings highlight the PoB Trail's role in driving rural economic development through tourism revenue, job creation, and infrastructure improvements. Building on the adapted methodology, a transferable and cost-efficient model is presented for evaluating the economic effects of long-distance trails on rural communities in emerging economies.The case of the PoB trail exemplifies how long-distance trail destinations can transform local economies while promoting regional cooperation and resilience in the post-pandemic Anthropocene, offering insights into evolving hiker mobilities driven by an intensified desire for nature-based experiences during that period and reinforcing the significance of long-distance trails as both economic assets and a form of movement heritage. • The transnational Peaks of the Balkans Trail attracts over 43k hikers annually. • Visitors contribute an estimated EUR 16.28 million to local incomes. • Trail tourists generate the equivalent of 1380 full-time jobs in the region. • The case of the PoB Trail highlights the economic potential of rural trail tourism.