Demography and recreation

Abstract

“In an increasingly complex society the task of creating and enhancing satisfying leisure environments and recreation opportunities is one of the most pressing issues in world development." A tool in helping recreation planners in meeting this task, managing limited resources and a never satisfied demand is the understanding of demographic changes. "Alteration in demographic patterns, the changing age distribution of the population, postponement of marriage and children ..... are seen as some of the more important influences on leisure and outdoor recreation in the U.S. and other developed countries."

"Demography is the study of human populations, with respect to their size, structure and development." All of these factors either constrain or facilitate recreation trends, but to limit ourselves to these factors will not give a full understanding of recreation issues, so to enhance our understanding of recreation trends other factors will be considered. Three factors considered are mobility, education, and income.