Growth of Leisure Time (DP IB Geography)
Revision Note
Growth of leisure time
Leisure can be defined as
The different types of activities people participate in, such as watching TV, participating in sports, reading books etc
A specific state of mind, such as engaging in pleasurable activities
The amount of free time away from work
Leisure pursuits can be:
Informal
Formal
Short term
Long term
Leisure can also include hobbies
Leisure time is not equal for people, it depends on their wealth and gender
Personal care includes sleeping, eating and drinking
Work-life balance is the division of time between working and family or leisure time
Factors affecting leisure time
Factor affecting leisure | Impact |
---|---|
Higher-income countries | More opportunities for extreme day trips where people fly to another city for one day Paid activities and hobbies are common activities |
Lower-income countries | There are fewer opportunities for leisure activities that have a cost, e.g. paying for the gym For some indigenous people, leisure time activities may include storytelling and playing traditional music |
Gender | Men generally have more leisure time in Western nations In Europe and the USA, men have more than 9 hours per week more leisure time than women Women’s status in society may affect how much leisure time they have |
Age | In Higher-income countries, leisure activities are targeted at people who have retired |
Paid work includes all work that is paid for
Unpaid work includes all household work
Changing purpose of leisure time
The growth of leisure time is the result of the following factors:
Developments in technology (such as washing machines and freezers) means people spend less time on household chores
An increase in self-employment and flexitime
The growth of leisure activities
An increase in disposable income
An increase in wages
More early retirement
A reduction in the length of the working week
A reduction in the length of the working day
Growing desire by the wealthier population to escape the pressures of urban living
Wide-bodied jet planes, large cruise ships and faster trains will widen economies of scale and time-space convergence
Increase in advertising of leisure activities
Social media/influencers promoting leisure activities
Categorisation of Tourist Activities
The beginning of tourism does not have a start date
Ancient civilisations travelled past their borders
Archaeologists have found artefacts from ancient civilisations in places beyond their border
Types of tourism
There are many different types of tourism
The main types are shown in the diagram below
Catergorization of tourism
Tourism can be categorized in several ways
Primary and secondary resources
Tourist resources can be divided into two categories - primary and secondary
Primary resources are pre-existing attractions for tourism, such as the climate, cultural and heritage sites
Secondary resources include entertainment and accommodation
Secondary resources will develop in areas where primary resources form the main attraction for tourists
Urban areas
In urban areas, primary resources are usually found in the area around the Central Business District (CBD)
Secondary resources may be spread more evenly through the urban area but many hotels and restaurants tend to be focused in the CBD
Some secondary resources may be found on the rural-urban fringe for example theme parks
Rural areas
In rural areas, the landscape itself may be the primary resource but there are also ancient ruins, castles etc… located throughout the landscape
Secondary resources in rural areas tend to be built around the primary resources for example a castle may have a cafe, shop to provide for tourists
Categories of sport
Tourism can be categorized into sport and tourism
Sport | |
---|---|
Group 1 | Athletics and rugby |
Group 2 | Dancing and yoga |
Group 3 | Outdoor sports |
Group 4 | Swimming, cycling and gym |
Group 5 | Racquet sports and running |
Group 6 | Bowling |
Group 7 | Cricket, pub sports such as pool |
Group 8 | Boxing, martial arts, and weightlifting |
Group 9 | Minor team sports |
Group 10 | Water sports |
Some sporting activities can be expensive and require dedicated space available:
Swimming in a pool usually requires a swim membership
Outdoor bowling needs a dedicated site
Popularity of sports
The popularity of sports differs by country
It is measured by how many people participate or the number of interested people
Site is an important consideration because, in urban areas, land can be expensive
Participation can be either individual or in a group
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