After working through the Introduction you should:

• understand hospitality, leisure and tourism services

• recognize the similarities and differences faced by leisure service providers

• show how the study of organizational behaviour (OB) is shaped by the nature of leisure services

• understand the structure of this book and the approach taken to the study of organizational behaviour in leisure services.

Understanding leisure

Leisure is an increasingly important economic activity in mature service economies. Leisure, is described by the Collins English Dictionary as, an opportunity for ease and relaxation , and therefore implies non-work time. The Oxford English Dictionary defines leisure as The state of having time at one s disposal, free unoccupied time . Indeed, the origin of the word is rooted in the Latin word licere, to be allowed . In its broadest sense leisure encompasses all those waking activities that are not work activities. Leisure services, however, describe services provided by various organizations to occupy leisure time. For the purposes of this book these leisure services are usually experienced out of the home, though there are some overlaps. Typically we include:

• eating and drinking out

• staying away from home

• travel involving visits to leisure locations

• visiting places involving travel from home

• participating in and watching sporting activities

• attending theatrical and other cultural occasions

• shopping as a leisure activity.

These activities are a major aspect of the global economy. The International Labour Organization s (ILO s) report for 2001 in its survey of global provision,...