Hiking trails see a surge in popularity and complaintsBy Lo Hsin-chen, Su Chin-feng and Jake Chung / Staff reporters, with staff writerWith international travel restricted because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Forestry Bureau has reported a surge in people turning to hiking as a recreational activity, but there have been complaints about the state and safety of some hiking trails. The visitor counts in July and August were 2,400 and 2,100 respectively, compared with 1,200 and 1,000 last year, it said. Chu said that the bureau has failed to fully inform hikers of the situation on hiking paths. The bureau should have erected protective facilities along the trail and provided adequate maps, she said. The trail, touted by the bureau as an “exceptional hiking trail,” has quite a way to go to live up to such standards, she said.

Source: Taipei Times November 01, 2020 15:56 UTC