OUTDOOR RECREATION TRENDS in the 1980'S SO WHAT? - IMPLICATIONS for SOCIETY!~ Carlton S
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OUTDOOR RECREATION TRENDS IN THE 1980's SO WHAT? - IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIETY!~ Carlton S. Van Doren2 INTRODUCTION a war in Southeast Asia with confused, mixed commitments and emotions. Our president at that My purpose today as the last speaker is time successfully disengaged us from this twofold. I have been asked to summarize the unwanted war and then proceeded to deceive us many excellent presentations we have heard with an event called Watergate. To provide a during the previous two days and to be a spokes- capstone to our frustrations we then moved man for society's viewpoint. It is my intent to immediately into a national and worldwide challenge you. I hope to draw your attention to energy crisis with its attendent, insidious some implications concerning outdoor recreation monetary inflation. In addition, Third World trends in the 1980's that I foresee in this time changes are emotionally draining our society. of continuous societal change. It is difficult learning to cope with contin- ual change. T. S. Eliot said, "The future has many cunning corners" and a traditional Japanese These events, the "Future Shock" of saying admonishes, "If you talk about the future, Toffler, have caused us to momentarily lose even the demons will laugh." In spite of these our confidence, question the future, and have cautions concerning prognostication, the impli- created a focus on the present. We made cations to society may really be, So What? questionable progress in handling our problems Why? Because I have to question if our trends, of racial and sexual inequality, poverty, crime, based on data compiled in the 1970's, have and pollution. But our confidence in our social, really allowed us to recognize that we have economic and political institutions and in our moved into a new post-industrial era of leisure. expectations of a better quality of life are I firmly believe that once in a while a look at questionable. Society is regrouping. We are events, attitudes, and philosophies of the past questioning whether our governmental institu- assist us to place the present in a better per- tions can really solve our problems or that spective. The intent is to develop a spirit of people can influence government. At the same creativity and a sense of the past that will time we are frantically seeking to exploit our enable us to ponder the future. American dreams before we awaken to find some of them are no longer possible. We have shifted The major question facing us today concerns from an American trait of deferred gratification our human attitudes toward work and leisure. In to almost panic consumption of goods and services. the words of philosopher Eric Hoffer, it is the Some have called this instant consumption a new "centrality of the human factor that makes American ethic. Monetary savings, family sta- industrial societies at present so unpredicta- bility, and conscientious work habits are not ble." Currently, we are riding a crest of a fostered by such "gusto" consumption and actions. leisure/travel/recreation spending panic, an attitude of, do it now, because tomorrow we may The March, 1980, issue of the Newsletter of not be able to! As individuals, we are uncer- the Texas Tourist Development Agency contained tain as to what the future holds for us. Our an interesting article about our conspicuous con- society has mixed emotions about the future. sumption. The newsletter related a study by the This is understandable if you stop and think Barton, Durstine and Osborne Agency showing that about the changes that have affected our lives Americans put vacations first on a list of ten in the last two decades. In the 19601s,we luxury items. The luxury list with items in focused on genuine concerns for racial inequal- order of importance included: vacationing, ity, poverty, and environmental pollution. As dining in expensive restaurants, purchasing we moved into the 1970's we were involved in expensive cuts of meat, cosmetics, sporting equipment, household furnishings, alcoholic -- lPaper presented at the National Outdoor beverages, major appliances, clothes, and movies. Recreation Trends Symposium, Durham, NH, April Some of the trends in outdoor recreation dis- 20-23, 1980. cussed at this symposium support this survey. L Professor, Recreation and Parks Department Trends in the private sector of the recrea- and Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, tion/travel/tourism industry also support the Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843. above priorities. The 80's are touted as the 207 ravel Decade." Emergent life styles seem to tion explosion of the post World War I1 years favor recreational travel. Travel is consid- has leveled off. In 1978 our growth rate was ered a right, not just a privilege. The Big less than one percent. This means that the Picture, a major annual publication in the population pyramid for the next decade can be travel industry, states that in 1979 U.S. trav- analyzed with some degree of certainty. Our elers spent $126 billion on trips to places 100 predominantly urban nation will grow older with miles or more from home. This is more money the largest group in the middle aged brackets, than is spent for clothing, automobiles, and between the ages of 25 to 45 years. This group for national defense. Only food, housing and may continue the same outdoor recreation habits income taxes, according to The Big Picture, pursued when they were younger, but it will be exceed travel expenditures. more affluent which may modify spending and travel habits. Persons in the older age brackets Is our society on a leisure, recreation, up to 65 years will increase by ten percent. They travel binge because we do not have confidence will also have more disposable income and with in our future? Quite the contrary, we are con- a continuation of early retirement, possibly more suming these goods and services because we see leisure time. The elderly over 65 years are a retrenchment in the future and a necessity to projected to increase at twice the normal growth change our habits, desires, and values. The rate, as life spans increase. This group may be implications for society in this new leisure less affluent, but I believe we can project that era can best be described by a brief analysis of a large number of these people will migrate to the eras of leisure/recreation during the last the Sun Belt if at all possible. century. I am indebted to my faculty colleague at Texas ALM, Clare Gunn, for providing the The Sun Belt's attraction is not only for initial effort in describing these eras. retirement, but for economic advancement and opportunity. There is evidence that energy This historical perspective is provided in resource rich states in the Mountain West will Figure 1 in the form of what the Hudson Insti- share the Sun Belt growth. Wyoming today is an tute might describe as an "analytical summary." excellent example of energy inspired growth. The four eras are entitled: High Society - Growth of this type will in some areas force 1860-1920; Mass Recreation - 1920-1958; Mass society to express a choice between energy Mobility and Transcience - 1960-1974 and Post- exploitation and natural resource preservation. Mobility Adjustment - 1974--. Each era has ten In many cases, I predict energy will be the variables or elements that focus on the key winner initially with a gradual shift by the events or philosophy of the period. These ten 1990's to the preservation approach as we either variables are Population Characteristics and develop new energy technology, change fuel Trends, Personal or Societal Philosophy, Time sources or reduce our energy utilization. for Recreation, Income, Recreational Activities and Equipment, Political Actions, and Evolution, The suburbs will continue a slow growth rate, Public and Private Organization for Leisure, but inhabitants may have to settle for fewer Advances in Technology and Communication, public social services as taxes are converted to Mobility and Facilities and Services. A study use for essential services. Smaller communities of these four eras of leisure/recreation provide in a rural setting will see some rebirth as a us with an enlightened historical perspective portion of our populace seeks a more conservative, that assists our analysis of the present and frugal lifestyle. These communities will usually casts some light on the near future. be in areas with distinct climatic and physio- graphic appeal, many adjacent to large public Brevity forces me to concentrate on the recreation areas. present era, Post-Mobility Adjustment. This era was initiated by the first energy crisis in Some of the center city population growth 1973-74 and its effect on the economies of the will continue where local leadership continues industrial world has been evolutionary and iden- to organize with indu'stry to accomplish major tifiable. An analysis of the variables cur- inner city restoration and reinvestment. Atlanta rently evolving leads me to believe that some and Detroit may be two of the better examples of major and minor adjustments in society's leisure this process during the last decade. patterns can be suggested. The key variables that will have the largest impact in the short Personal/Societal Philosophy term are money (inflation) and mobility (energy). These two variables are intimately tied Our philosophy toward leisure, recreation, together and impact the remaining eight varia- and travel has changed dramatically since the bles. first High Society Era. Leisure activities are now considered a right for all, not just for Population Characteristics and Movement the affluent upper class. The 1980's will con- tinue as a period of growing self-actualization The population of the United States has and improvement.