The islands on which I plod are singularly lacking in paths, and most people didn't walk anywhere they didn't have to. A few years ago there was a footpath project, I think it was something to do with walking for health, and I was one of the volunteers who walked possible routes. A few were chosen to develop and they put up waymarks and the school made bridges over the worst of the bogs.
To everyone's surprise they are used, within a year there was a detectable path between the waymarks on the routes across the moor, and the footfall on the built paths kept them open.
I think experienced walkers underestimate how daunting it can be to set off on an unfamiliar activity, especially as we all keep telling them how much knowledge, posh gear etc they need to do something which they have basically been doing since they were 2. The demand might surprise us all.