ATN Secretariat

Asia Trails Network (ATN)

The Asia Trails Network is a transnational network comprising representative trail and hiking organizations from across Asia, officially established in 2014. The network was conceived during the 4th World Trails Conference held in Jeju Island in January 2014, which was attended by over 300 participants from 50 trail organizations across 18 countries.

ATN aims to facilitate trail knowledge sharing, construct trail and hiking culture, promote collaboration and marketing on the trail-related topics among trail organizations in Asia.

 

Objectives:

  1. Campaigns and activities for conserving natural resources.
  2. Sharing trail research and related knowledge.
  3. Promoting health and social welfare through hiking to enhance quality of life.
  4. Promoting hiking tourism and fostering a healthy walking culture.
  5. Joint promotion and collaborative marketing.
  6. Facilitating exchanges among ATN organizations and promoting cooperation with the World Trails Network (WTN) and other international trail organizations.

Tasks:

  1. Task Teams—Trail Maintenance: Promoting eco-craft trail maintenance practices, and facilitating the exchange of volunteers and the experiences of training systems.
  2. Task Teams—Trail Media: encouraging the showcasing of trail-related films and photos to promote hiking culture.
  3. Asia Trails Conference (ATC): bringing together trail organizations and individuals from around the world to discuss and exchange ideas on trail-related topics.
  4. Friendship Trail: fostering hiking culture between two organizations and connecting trail organizations. The process of setting up friendship trails includes visits and exchanges, ratification of Memorandum of Understanding (MOU), confirmation of routes, establishment of mutual signage, and unveiling ceremonies.
  5. Others: Clean Walking Campaign, issuance of ATN Passport, and so on.

ATN members

ATN consists of regular and associate members from South Korea, China, Japan, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Mongolia, Bhutan, Nepal and more. All members participate in or work with the ATN on annual general assembly, bi-annual Asia Trails Conference (ATC), task teams and walking festivals. The network is continually expanding, aiming to enhance cohesion and exchanges among trail organizations across Asia.

 


ATN Secretariat

The ATN Secretariat is in charge of the international exchange of various trail organizations across Asia and serves as the regional representative, working closely with the World Trails Network (WTN). From 2014 to May 2023, the Jeju Olle Foundation of South Korea served as the inaugural secretariat. In July 2023, the Taiwan Thousand-Miles Trail Association (TMI Trail) officially took over this role.

The TMI Trail was invited to join the ATN in 2017 and formally participated in its conference for the first time the following year. At the ATN annual meeting held in Tottori, Japan, in 2023, the TMI Trail was highly recognized by ATN members because of its successful hosting of the 2022 Asia Trails Conference and its significant contributions to international exchanges in recent years. As a result, it was elected as the new secretariat of the ATN.

We hope that Taiwan will become a hub for the exchange of trail experiences in Asia. We continuously improve and promote Taiwan's national greenways, expand exchanges between countries in Asia, and allow hikers from around the world to discover the beauty of Taiwan.

 


Major Events of the TMI Trail's Participation in the ATN

Relevant Links