The Irish Farmers Association has proposed a €15m scheme in which up to 5,000 farmers would open up their lands for recreational walkers.
The association says its scheme will resolve differences between landowners and country-side walkers who wish to traverse their lands.
Speaking at the launch of an IFA initiative for a Countryside Walkways Management Scheme, the organisation's President John Dillon said that the difficulties surrounding recreational use of the countryside could be resolved through the promotion of managed walkways.
Mr Dillon claimed that the downward trend in such holidays could be "reversed through a scheme that would initially cost around €6m, but which would increase over time to involve 5,000 farmers at a cost of €15m."
He called on the Government to support the scheme and to indemnify landowners against any claims from people using these walks through local authority funding.
"This scheme will ensure that farmers and landowners can play an important role in realising the natural assets of the countryside through agreed walks," he said.