ABSTRACT
One of the mysteries in tourism research, at least to the author, is the absence of a more thorough treatment of the recreation and leisure studies in the literature. By this it is suggested that although recreation and tourism can be viewed as separate fields of study, there is quite a strong conceptual connection between the two areas. This has been emphasised by a number of authors over the years. For example, Jansen-Verbeke and Dietvorst (1987) and Edginton et al. (1980) suggest that in analysing the leisure discipline from the perspective of the individual there is little difference between elements of leisure, recreation and tourism. Tourism therefore is very much a recreational beast, leading some to suggest that the basic motivation for tourism is the human need for recreation (Graburn 1989). This link is further emphasised by Metelka (1981), who defines tourism as ‘Free spontaneous activity; synonymous with recreation. An activity done for its own sake, rather than for economic gain’ (p. 90). Subsequent to this Metelka (1990) defined tourism in three ways: (1) the relationship and phenomena associated with the journeys and temporary visits of people travelling primarily for leisure and recreation; (2) a subset of recreation; that form of recreation involving geographic mobility; and (3) the industries and activities that provide and market the services needed for pleasure travel (p. 154). (See Mieczkowski, 1981, for a discussion of the relationship between leisure, recreation and tourism.) The resultant overlap between recreation and tourism is a topic in the work of Hall and Page (1999), who say that there is increasing convergence between the two concepts in terms of theory, activity and impacts. Perhaps one of the key reasons for differentiation is the notion that tourism continues to be examined from marketing and business contexts, while the recreation delivery system still maintains a strong focus on satisfaction (i.e., how the recreation delivery system might better satisfy the needs of people). In this chapter, an attempt is made to bridge the recreation and tourism gap through a process referred to as programme planning. This broadly based procedure provides the means by which to organise a series of steps, strategically, in piecing together better and more holistic experiences for ecotourists. In this regard, the focus sits squarely on the tourist.
