Investment in Trailhead Facilities and Its Influence On Competitive Advantage in Kenya’s Adventure Tourism Sector
Abstract
Trailhead infrastructure forms an important component of the hiking experience and influences how visitors evaluate a destination. Facilities such as sanitation, signage, information points, and emergency support contribute to visitor comfort, safety, and preparedness. In Kenya's adventure tourism sector, these facilities represent a critical interface between natural attractions and the overall visitor experience. This study investigated the extent to which these investments influenced sustained competitive advantage in Kenya’s adventure tourism sector. Theoretically grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Expectation Disconfirmation Theory (EDT), the research sought to determine if superior infrastructure could truly differentiate one trail from its competitors, or if such infrastructure served merely as basic requirements for participation. The study employed a convergent mixed-methods design. Quantitative data was collected through a structured questionnaire administered to 400 active hikers within Greater Nairobi and the Central Highlands, while qualitative data was obtained through semi-structured interviews with twelve key stakeholders. Descriptive analysis revealed a mean construct score of 3.10 for trailhead infrastructure investment, reflecting moderate satisfaction. Notably, restroom cleanliness recorded the lowest individual score (M = 2.70, SD = 1.39). Within the broader structural model, which explained 53.1% of the variance in competitive advantage, investment in trailhead infrastructure was not a statistically significant direct predictor of sustained competitive advantage (β = 0.089, p = 0.093). Qualitative insights suggested that infrastructure functions as “hygiene factors”, essential for basic operations but insufficient on their own to create a unique edge. The study concluded that while basic infrastructure is a prerequisite for service delivery, it is not a direct source of competitive advantage
Keywords: Trailhead infrastructure, adventure tourism, hiking, competitive advantage, Kenya, Resource-Based View, Expectation Disconfirmation Theory.
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