ThE 37 Commercial Recreation & Leisure Management

ThE 37

Commercial Recreation & Leisure Management

FACTORS PROMOTING THE GROWTH OF RECREATION

Factors Promoting the Growth of Recreation:

1. Increase in discretionary time a key factor underlying the growth of recreation has been the growth of free or discretionary time in the 20th century. Due to advanced mechanical equipment and automated processes in factories, agriculture, and the service fields, productive capacity increased remarkably during the half of the 19th century and the first half of the 20th century.

In addition, more holidays and longer vacations are now enjoyed by most employees. Because of improvised Social Security benefits and pension plans as well as medical advances which lead to a longer life, many employees can now avail of fifteen or more years of full-time leisure after retirement. Another reason is that labor saving devices such as automatic washing machines, lawnmowers, microwave ovens and vacuum cleaners have greatly simplified the demands of life.

2. Influence of technology sophisticated technology has provided new forms of recreation for the people. Outdoor recreation uses complex and expensive devices in activities such as skydiving, hang gliding, scuba diving, boating, rollerblading, skiing and snowboarding. Computer dating provides a new form of social contact for single adults.

Video games offer interactive competition or exposure to new varieties of play setting and virtual realities. The internet has become an important part of travel and tourism by providing information and fascinating reservations and vacation choices. Home-based recreation has become dependent on varied forms of electronic entertainment.

3. Public interest in health and fitness a key trend in the 20th century is the growth of public interest in exercise and physical fitness programs. Many people are now concerned about improving their health, vitality and appearance through diet and exercise. Those who exercise regularly look and feel better. Research showed that the most successful fitness programs were those that provided recreation interest and satisfaction.

4. Commodification of leisure various forms of recreation are being developed by profit-seeking businesses. Giant corporations have taken control of music, television, movie businesses, sports stadiums, cruise ships, theme parks, and other leisure operations. Many elaborate new facilities which offer varied forms of recreation are being developed as part of the trend toward commodification.

In big cities, huge public fitness centers which include pools, aerobics, dance rooms, and facilities for family play are being built and often charge membership fees that cost several hundred dollars a year.

5. Therapeutic recreation service an important aspect of growth of recreation has been the increased awareness of the recreation needs of persons with physical, mental or social disabilities. In recent years, there has been an increased recognition of the need to provide recreational programs for special populations such as mentally retarded, mentally ill, and physically challenged.

These programs use therapeutic recreation as a form of treatment. One of the sports programs for people with disabilities that has received much attention in recent years is the Special Olympics, an international program of physical fitness, sports training and athletic competition for children and adults with mental retardation.

6. New leisure roles for women at present, there is a strong drive by women to play a more equal role in recreational opportunities. In the past, women were barred from a variety of athletic, outdoor recreation, cultural and social involvements. Women were treated as second-class citizens in leisure opportunities. With the emergence of a strong feminist movement, this inequality was corrected.

There is now a growing interest in womens tennis golf, gymnastics, track and field and similar events in every level of competition. Outstanding women athletes have helped create a new image of feminine strength, determination and self-confidence.

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