Recreational geography is part of a comprehensive science that studies the territorial issues of tourism and recreation, aimed at restoring human strength. This discipline studies the interaction of the tourism industry with the components of nature and society. But this is only an encyclopedic concept, for a detailed acquaintance with this branch of geography, we consider the subject, methods and tasks of the discipline.
General idea of the geography of recreation and tourism
The organization of recreational activities must be approached in a comprehensive manner, because it is important to establish a coordinated interaction of all the constituent elements: natural complexes, potential tourists, the service sector, human resources, technical infrastructure, etc. Recreational geography is engaged in the study of these issues. This science was formed at the intersection of physical and socio-economic geography, and has been successfully developing since the 1960s. If we analyze the term in detail, then the word "recreation" here means "rest", as well as the restoration of the physical and emotional forces of people in specially designated places. Thus, we can conclude that science is studying the features of the location and management of territories that satisfy the needs of the population in recreation.
Industry subject
The subject of recreational geography is the basic concepts of recreational (the science of the types of recreational resources), as well as the specific features of the placement of leisure and tourism facilities in the world. Science can consider issues both general and characteristic for a particular area. Depending on the studied territory, state and global recreational geography are distinguished. The first is limited to the area of a specific country, while the second studies the specifics of recreation and tourism around the world.
The basic concepts of discipline: object, subject, activity
The basics of recreational geography, as a science, are represented by the object and subject of its research:
- The objects are various structures of recreation, as a holistic system. These include leisure and tourism resources, recreational facilities, as well as activities that are related to the direct organization of the process.
- As subjects of research, it is customary to understand recreants (tourists, vacationers) and recreators (attendants, travel agencies, vacation organizers).
Research methods
Like any other science, recreational geography and tourism has its own research methods. Here are the main ones:
- System analysis method. Used in most theoretical sciences. It has several standard techniques: Component - the study of all systems and relationships is taken as a basis, then the information is analyzed and filtered, which allows us to highlight the main thing. Functional - territorial-recreational complexes are divided into smaller subsystems, and then there is a study of their interaction with each other. Historical - currently relevant information is being studied, as well as previously received information. Then, on this basis forecasts for the further development of the industry are built. Cartographic - no geographic science can do without a graphic representation of information.
- Method of mathematical modeling and analysis. It is used for economic calculations, graphing, etc.
- Sociological method. It involves the collection of information in direct contact with the population. The following tools are used: questionnaire; interview; polls on the Internet and the media.
Tasks
In the 9th grade geography program, recreational facilities are considered in conjunction with tourism. The commonality of these areas allows us to single out the primary tasks of this discipline:
- First of all, it is the study of geographic differences in the development of recreation and tourism. Indeed, the specifics of the industry very much depend on natural conditions, the level of economic development, and even the political regime of the country in which the services in this sphere are provided.
- The second task is the scientific justification of the territorial organization of activities that deal with recreation and tourism.
- The last task is to ensure a harmonious combination of recreational activities with acceptable environmental management regimes.
The main stages of development of the industry
Especially rapidly, this science developed in Russia. Recreational geography began to develop even during the Soviet era, and managed to go through several significant stages even before the collapse of the USSR:
- The first developments in the field of recreation and tourism appeared in the 70s. Then academicians Mironenko, Mints and Tverdokhlebov dealt with these issues. Their research focused on the industry.
- The first stage involved the collection of theoretical information and assessment of the country's recreational potential.
- At the second stage, work in the field of tourism and leisure began to be considered as a specific type of human activity.
- The third stage lasted until 1995. They began to consider the branch of science in an interdisciplinary sense; inter-enterprise relations appeared.
- From 1997 to this day, the recreational direction in geography has been a priority, and has become an important point in the global economy, along with other types of economic activity.
Territorial and recreational system
The main object of study of the discipline is the geography of recreational systems and TRS (territorial-recreational systems). These are specialized territories that provide leisure and tourism services, and receive corresponding income.
TRS includes:
- All recreants (tourists and vacationers) who visit, have visited or plan to visit this territory for recreational purposes. Data on the number of tourists is collected by special departments of statistics and forecasting.
- Unique natural sites and a favorable combination of natural conditions that contribute to attracting recreants to this territory.
- Objects of educational tourism: architectural monuments, historical sites, attractions, etc.
- A set of recreational facilities and infrastructure: resorts, pensions, hotels and entertainment facilities. This also includes institutions that organize and provide these services (travel agencies and agencies).
- Organization of transfer. The provision of transport services that will help travelers easily get to their destination. It can be not only specially organized services, but also all types of public transport that a recreant can use.
- Recreators - people who work in this area as staff or provide other types of recreational services.
conclusions
What can be said in the end? Recreational geography is a young integrated science that is rapidly developing in the modern economy. After all, demand creates supply. People began to care more about their health and are willing to spend a lot of money on recuperation. The service of the services provided is getting higher, because fierce competition forces us to keep the brand. There are more and more new recreational facilities, which means that discipline has something to study and compare.