Sustainable Development and Leisure Services: Changes and Trends

Is leisure still a ‘luxury’ in the globalizing world? On the one hand, the number of hours and days that can be allocated to non-compulsory sports, recreation, cultural or tourist activities increases. However, the issue of rationality and seriousness in managing leisure is still difficult to assess. On the other hand, due to socio-demographic and climate changes, people migrate massively (to large cities or other countries) in search of a better life and opportunities to improve their material status and thus often neglect leisure. Those who can afford it, transfer their own leisure models to new communities, while maintaining their cultural identity, customs and habits. However, numerous people adopt new patterns. The United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) encompass the key social, environmental, and economic dimensions in sustainable development. SDG 3 focuses on ensuring health and promoting the well-being of all people, at all ages. It seems that the role and functions of leisure in people’s lives in many communities are important. We need to bear in mind not just the health of people, but also their integration, compensation and use of nature for serious leisure. The purpose of this chapter is to identify leading trends in the leisure market, including sustainable development. It is important to refer to the ongoing changes from the perspective of this issue’s key dimensions, i.e. social, business and environmental responsibility. The authors’ critical view is not an essential element of argument, but only a voice in the discussion on the need to promote and disseminate information on sustainable development in the scope of leisure management in communities, and the reactions of enterprises to the communities’ needs.