Applied recreation geography

Abstract

Recreation geography is among the more recent subspecialities, as well as one of the most application-oriented subfields in the discipline; defined by the authors as "geographic expertise used as a tool for solving leisure-related problems'. They indicate that the vast majority of research endeavors under this label typically concentrate on leisure activities of some sort and posit a possible change of name to "leisure geography'. They suggest that the applied versus pure debate has little import in recreation geography, but believe, instead, that the more relevant question is whether recreation geographers will throw their support and expertise behind predictive and normative approaches toward problem solving research, and to do so on a more widespread basis. -from Editor