ABSTRACT
The Population Health Model (PHM) (Hamilton and Bhatti 1996) brings much needed attention to the critical role of environmental and community variables in the promotion of physical and mental health. However, it appears to neglect two facets integral to what is otherwise a rich contextual approach to health promotion. One facet, place, is the binding theme of this book and will be addressed accordingly. The other facet, leisure (and in particular nature-based recreation and tourism), is the specific substantive focus of this chapter. Few would seriously dispute that the quality of the environment plays a critical role in quality of life in all parts of the world in terms of providing basic material sustenance for life (food, shelter, etc.). Likewise, leisure and free-time activities are familiar venues for human development and quality of life. However, in the realm of public policy, with its inevitable bias towards tangible (demonstrable) outcomes, the role the environment (and more specifically relationships to place) in supporting the less tangible social, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of life quality – dimensions often manifest within the context of leisure and free-time pursuits – is easily overlooked.
