Setting the scene for theWorld Leisure Journalspecial edition on leisure management

Abstract

This article sets the scene for the range of issues that could be addressed in the WLJ special edition on leisure management. The management and delivery of leisure programs and services is the foundation of community leisure. Leisure management textbooks provide guidelines and direction for leisure program delivery but there is limited research about how leisure programs and services are delivered and evaluated. This paper provides a summary of a range of considerations about leisure management and community leisure programs and services. After decades of leisure services delivery, there is still a need for public leisure managers to provide a rationale for why they deliver services. Five legitimations based on health, socialisation, economic impact, community development and national identity provide a further consideration for what needs to be better understood about leisure management.

Leisure management: all about the “what” and the “who”

“…The call for papers for the LM Special Edition was released in late 2015 so it is particularly rewarding to see the outcome of that initiative with five articles from around the world that address issues about leisure management. Tower and Zimmermann (2016) set the context for the special edition by inviting submissions about scholarly and empirical contributions, systematic reviews and reports that would further the understanding of how leisure management improves communities' quality of life. Our analysis identified limited publications in scholarly leisure journals that focused on leisure management and there was even less focus on community/non-profit and government services (except parks) where much of the community leisure programmes are delivered.…”

“…Our analysis identified limited publications in scholarly leisure journals that focused on leisure management and there was even less focus on community/non-profit and government services (except parks) where much of the community leisure programmes are delivered. There was a need to provide more insights about community leisure programmes, services and facilities to assist in service provision (Tower & Zimmermann, 2016). Leisure management is about delivering the services that meet the leisure needs of individuals and communities.…”