The concept of leisure and recreation

Leisure is a state of mind which ordinarily is characterized by unobligated time and willing optimism. It can involve extensive activity or no activity. The key ingredient is an attitude which fosters a peaceful and productive co-existence with the elements in one’s environment. According to the Australian journal of recreation by veal A.J 1992.

Leisure then is a block of unoccupied time, spare time or free time when we are free to rest or do what we choose. Leisure time is beyond that which is required for existence the things we do biologically to stay alive (eat, sleep, eliminate, medicate among others) it’s a time when our feelings should be minimal its discretionary time, the time to be used according to our judgment or choice.(charles k. brightbill, 1960)

Leisure consists of relatively self-determined activity, experience that falls on to ones economically free time roles that is seen as leisure by participants that is psychologically pleasant in anticipation and recollection that potentially covers the whole range of commitment and intensity that contains characteristics and constraints that provides opportunities for recreation, personal growth and service to others.(kephan, 1975)

Leisure has been the concern of philosophers and other writers since the days of ancient Greece. At one point it served chiefly to identify upper classes in society since it was regarded as their unique possession more recently leisure has been  defined  by economists and sociologists simply as non-work time. Recreation while sharing some common elements encompasses many types of experiences that are not at all play like reading, attending cultural events, other intellectually based hobbies. In the past recreation was regarded chiefly pleasurable and relaxing activity that served to restore and refresh individuals so that they might return to their work with energy. Today it is understood to be more complex phenomenon with meanings that extend far beyond simply taking part in activity according.(karus, 1966).

Inflation and higher land values

Prices frequently rise, including land and property values, when there is sustained building demand for tourism facilities. However, a boom atmosphere at a destination frequently leads to over-investment in accommodation stock; and later, usually a fall in some buildings prices.

Seasonality

Revenue and income flows usually vary with the seasons. Peak season visitor numbers can at some destinations and attractions exceed their quietest period’s attendance figures by many times. This can even be by a factor of more than a hundred between a cold, wet UK January day (9 visitors) and a sunny UK mid-summer day (1500 + people), according to Glastonbury Abbeys

(UK) management staff (Harcombe DPT, 1997). Consequently, the decision as to what the maximum number of customers that an attraction or tourist facility should cater for is a difficult one, especially for large hotels and theme parks - because of seasonal demand, and the need to ensure an adequate return on their investment.

 Creation of extra and/or new costs

More tourists mean new or increased requirements for utility production and/or facilities, such as water, electricity, and gas supplies, and sewage and garbage removal. In addition, the tourism facilities and attractions will need routine repair and maintenance. So also will all the related infrastructure, especially roads; and also any other transportation links and facilities that may be necessary, including railways, air and/or water links.

The market for recreational cycling activities can range from day or part-day casual usage through long distance touring holidays. Within the growing literature on tourism, there is a debate that recognizes that tourism activities are a subset of leisure .this implies that leisure activities are discretionary because they occur in juxtaposition to work and other households. Mehegan, (2004) Balagadde says there is room for more investments in the hotel business, and believes that such classy small hotels can give the big hotels a run for their money.

“There is a market for all hotels irrespective of size and facilities,” he said. However, Balagadde, the executive director of Uganda Hotel Owners Association, feels that much more should be done in terms of infrastructure and skills development by member countries

Influence of technology

The sophisticated technology has provided new forms of recreation for people outdoor recreation uses complex and expensive devices in activities for example sky diving, boating. The internet has become an important part of travel and tourism by providing information, facility reservation and vacation choices. Home based recreation has become dependent on varied forms of electronic environment most of the leisure and recreation use technology to see a progress in tourism for example reservations can be done online they offer food, health spurs, saunas among others for the travellers and hence their contribution to the population of tourists that come into the country.

Challenges in leisure and recreational facilities                       

Leisure facilities are vulnerable to changes in economy and environment that is to say when economies are bad people defer their vacations until times are better and the government can’t spend money on publically provided leisure services. Leisure service professional’s particularly financial managers who have a task of funding the services, there is a constant threat of competition like counterparts, the growing population around towns that needs space for expansion, agriculture among others these make leisure and recreation facility professionals lazy due to increase on land prices costs of construction leaving the facilities in a very poor state.

Most of the leisure services are privately owned enterprises they do not have public board meetings like governmental units do there is no state open meetings act their business be done in a public place hence it has greatly affected them as a result.(www.human kinetic.com)

Developing leisure and recreational facilities in an area should be managed while looking at the environmental damage that it can cause. Atkinson Willes, (1969) remarks that 25% of the birds which migrate to Britain during their breeding time use reservoirs rather than their natural bodies, these remained relatively free from human disturbance not until authorities were convinced that these areas could cover for the public recreation. When the public accepted it led to a wide range of recreation facilities and activity for example swimming, sailing, and canoeing but at the expense of the bird sanctuaries and the whole environment at large.(atkinson, 1969)

Growth of travel by people with disabilities and older persons is becoming a growing group of consumers of travel, sports, and leisure oriented products and services. Furthermore with regard to physical access families with children who are also becoming part of this increasing market have similar needs with disabilities and older persons. Thus large numbers of people require tourism to be made barrier free. Most of the leisure and recreational facilities are designed in such a way that they don’t cater for people with disabilities.

Trying to offer a variety of recreation opportunities to satisfy the needs of the individuals in the community is a challenging endeavour this is the task of local recreation providers. Recreation offers opportunities for individuals to participate in during leisure time and to help participants experience, enjoyment and live healthier lives as a result of benefits gained from recreation

Experiences. Unfortunately having to deal with the various issues makes it more challenging they may include lack of funding, lack of enough facilities among others (Michele and Zhang 2004).

All expenses of a program service or facility should contribute to the agency’s ability to satisfy the participants experience in the recreational opportunity being delivered. The quality of the program must be considered when looking to reduce on the costs to overcome financial problems. Reducing costs can also result into low quality programs, services and facilities

Recreation organizations have program staff to help work the day to day work of delivering and providing programs and services to the community especially not for profit many also seek to help with program and event delivery. Additional workers whether paid or volunteer can be crucial to the amount, variety and quality of recreational opportunities to the organisation.           (wwwhumankinetics.com)

Although there are challenges in the management and operations of recreation facilities the is one issue of lack of facilities many communities have a need for either first or additional facility or even require facility upgrades and maintenance practitioners understand the needs for a community and are knowledgeable about the need for a facility for example a guest house, hotel among others. (Robinson l 2002)

The importance of leisure and recreational facilities

According to robins (1989) Leisure and recreation are taken to be social needs areas for the welfare services such as health, education. To him recreation refers to the activities undertaken during leisure time and encompasses all those things a person chooses to do during leisure time. The importance of leisure time lays in the fact that people just do it for enjoyment and therefore in order for an individual to really enhance the happiness there should be provision of leisure and recreational facilities for example hotels, resorts, parks among others.(m, 1986)

While Isobel, (1972) notes that all over, world life is not a vessel but a cup to be filled. Recreational facilities are an important aspect of culture. He observed that in many African cultures, this has taken shape in dances, folksongs and many impressive fact traits. However today this has been transformed into new activities like rafting, golf playing, and watching television among others and hence a need for the leisure and recreational facilities (isobel, 1972)

According to Howard (1993), the hotel industry is a very important section of the economy in any country. It is a form of economic activity which plays a significant role in generating income to a nation. He asserted that it would not be realistic to think that the industry can grow rapidly. He added that because of its contribution that the hotel industry cannot be dismissed.(Howard, 1993)

McIntosh et al (1990) also writes that curio shops featuring gift  items particularly local handicrafts and art crafts are provided in hotels to make shopping easier  for tourists he indicates that since shopping is an important area, then it is important to have these facilities around to attract tourists .

Recreation is an activity that rests men form work often by giving them a change and restores them from work. When adults play, they do it for recreation. This point of view looks at acceptability today for two reasons, first that in modern society it becomes less demanding many people are becoming fully engaged in their physical and mental time in their recreation rather than at work thus the saying that recreation should be light and relaxing. Kraus (1966)