Planning and managing rural recreational traffic flows: why the future can’t be more like the past

The increasing popularity of rural tourism can cause traffic related problems at certain areas. Traffic congestion and parking problems are likely to occur as the infrastructure at these countryside destinations is seldom capable of dealing with the growing number of cars. Values which make the sites attractive to visitors can become under pressure and car traffic can also have negative effects on natural values. To prevent for such impacts, recreational traffic management is required. Recreational traffic management focuses on a smart organisation of recreational traffic flows. It has developed since the 1970s and to-day its character is influencing. Influencing takes place by offering tempting alternative opportunities and packages with varied facilities, based on specific desires of individual recreants. This requires detailed data on recreational use as well as an actor analysis, both on a regional and local scale.