1. GEOGRAPHY OF LEISURE AND RECREATION
Definitions and Concepts of Geography and Recreation Geography

2. GEOGRAPHY-The study of the spatial distribution of various phenomena on the earth’s surface
The emphasis is on location of phenomena
Where
Why

3. The question of “why” brings up linkages to the usage of the facility
Therefore one needs to explore:
The physical aspects of the site
The characteristics of the population associated with the site
Location is a major key to success and understanding the links between location, site characteristics, use and population is key to efficient use of facilities and satisfying the demands of the population and environment

4. Recreation Geography studies the spatial aspects of the recreation system There are three primary areas of concern:
Population
Facilities
Activity

5. Population
The size of population in the study area: the impacts on the number, type, and size of facilities
The characteristics of the population: factors such as age, sex, income, and the use of time will have influences on the facilities and activities desired

6. Activities
Theoretically, the characteristics of the population will create needs for that population (or sub-group of the population)
Those needs will generate the motivation (economic, political, etc) to provide facilities for the specific activities

7. Facilities
Facilities provide a site for activities that the population desires
The facility can generate demand by itself (False Demand) in the sense of limiting opportunities
The location is influenced by many demands

8. Assumptions Studies revolve around Location Use
Population, facilities, and activities are interlinked
There are consequences to the interaction that occurs between the three factors
These consequences can be understood and manipulated

9. The Geographic Approach to Problems
The exploration of spatial arrangement: the distribution of spatial phenomena
The exploration of the relationships between the factors studied in 1 above
The exploration of spatial process: changes in the factors and relationships that produce changes in location and usage

10. Spatial Arrangement What do you include?
Therefore have to have a basic idea of what makes the system work (education, research)
need to have a general working knowledge of the second approach
gather data, linked to location and characteristics of the site and users

12. The Geographic Approach to Problems
The exploration of spatial arrangement: the distribution of spatial phenomena
2 The explanation of the relationships between the spatial phenomena

13. Linkages between Factors
Attempt to link factors to the facility and the usage of the facility
Example would be that as expressed in Distance Decay
As the distance between the population being considered and the facility increases the frequency of visit and length of visit changes
Concerns? - linked to need to measure

15. Factors Possibly Connected
Age and Use Frequency
Income and Use Frequency
Family Size and Babysitting
Car Ownership and Presence
Type of Chairlift and Repeat Usage
Employment and Time of Travel
Hill Variation and Years Experience
Apres Ski Facilities and Age
Gender and Frequency of Use
Snowmaking ability and Frequency of Use

16. Difficulty of Indirect Relationships
Assumption that the relationship is direct: people are all knowing and understanding
If there is a relationship with weather and travel - how do we know the weather in the destination area?
Are all members of the population affected the same way?

17. Problem of Simplicity - the one- to-one relationship
Distance Decay - the relationship between distance and frequency of visit.
Are there other factors that influence the frequency of visit?
Income
Employment
Transportation
Weather
Family Relationships
Facilities on site

18. Spatial Relationships
Some studies stop at one-to-one relationships
This does not explain the complexity of the real relationships
Multiple explanations are better but are extremely complex
Normally a set point in time is picked so as to “freeze” relationships

19. The Geographic Approach to Problems
The exploration of spatial arrangement: the distribution of spatial phenomena
The exploration of the relationships between the factors studied in 1 above
The exploration of spatial process

20. Spatial Process - Change Over Time
This is a consideration that, in a practical sense, does not enter into all studies
The previous explanation works because it “freezes” the relationships
If a factor changes, the relationships change and the outcome and linkages change

21. Inertia vs Change
Facilities are somewhat inflexible - built for specific activities
People have investment in equipment, training, skill
Technologies are not static - changes in equipment, access, etc
Recreation tends to be fad oriented - therefore quick changes

22. Prediction
the relationships are interlinked so all factors are changing - each might have a different direction
How do you predict change?
With the safest method being extrapolation of current trends - safest prediction period would be 5 years

23. CONCLUSIONS
The Geography of Recreation deals with the location and use of recreation facilities
We need to understand the motivations of population segments
The end results are a product of multiple factors, all interacting and all changeable