Unit 1 - The Leisure Industry Today

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Overview

You need to understand what is meant by the term ‘leisure’. Although defining leisure is difficult, it refers to the entire range of activities that individuals undertake in their free time. You should study and consider a range of definitions of ‘leisure’. You need to be able to assess the merits and shortcomings of such definitions and to explain why it is difficult to adopt a single definition which is appropriate in all circumstances.

How will I be assessed?

Level 1 - provide a simplistic or limited definition of the leisure industry

Level 2 - provide a clear definition of the leisure industry plus some examples to show range, scale and importance.

Level 3 - give a detailed definition of the leisure industry, supported by a range of examples to show the range, scale and importance of the leisure industry.

Level 4 - give a thorough definition of the leisure industry, supported by a wide range of examples to show range, scale and importance.

What is leisure?

Many attempts have been made to define leisure. All good dictionaries contain simplistic definitions.

More specialist sources attempt more detailed definitions of leisure.

Leisure can be catagorised in three ways:

• homebased
• active
• passive

Assignment 1

Research a range of definitions of leisure. Evaluate these definitions (what are their good/not so good features?).

Explain why it is difficult to define leisure.

Investigate the different types of leisure (passive / active / homebased). Give a definition of what each is and provide examples.

Produce your own definition of leisure. Ensure you explain each aspect of your definition in detail (consider - why is this an important element of the definition?)

Produce your own definition of the leisure industry.