TOUR19021 Events, Leisure & Entertainment

After meeting our obligations, physical and psychological needs we have free time during which many people choose to participate in or spectate at sport, cultural activities and festivals which all form sectors of the field of entertainment and comprise increasingly significant tourism attractions. The study of entertainment is the 'study of the history, culture, beliefs, experiences, and concerns of the audiences it entertains' (Sayre and King, 2004 p.xxi). Entertainment activities are important economic and social contributors to both the regional and national economies. Entertainment is by its very nature inter-disciplinary, covering sociology, communication, economics, marketing, social scientific and humanistic theory. As an academic discipline, entertainment research only began in the 1970s (Sayre and King, 2003) and preparing students with the skills and knowledge to conduct research in this developing area is one of the main aims of this course.