CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

   INTRODUCTION

Recreational service constitutes an integral part of the tourism industry which enhances individual happiness and contributes to overall local development of communities. Tourism and recreational services are among the most actively developed sectors of the worlds’ economy contributing to social wellbeing, economic growth, social inclusion, employment, poverty reduction, resource efficiency, environmental protection and climate change (Nizamiem, 1998; United Nation World Tourism Organization [UNWTO], 2017). Articles 24 of the Universal Declarations of Human Right (UDHR) (2001) consider leisure as a basic fundamental human right.

  Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (2012) noted that people who cannot find this right are obliged to find illness sooner or later. Indeed, this sector brings huge relief, comfort, amusement and beauty to people and the environment (Waugh, 2002). Recreation does not only make use of natural sites (Tennessee Department of Environment and conservation [TDEC], 2012) but also artificial set-ups with countless societal benefits and effects (communal/solidarity, active/passive, outdoor/indoor, healthy/harmful). Based on the terms of reference on Sustainable Tourism Development (SDGs) Goal 8, Target 8.9, Goal 12, Target 12b and Goal 14, Target 14.7, there is a growing disparity in recreational activities between developed and developing countries (UNWTO, 2017).

However, due to diverse patterns of sustainable urban development, recreational activities are rapidly growing in the future in terms of job and service provisions, job creation and opportunities for standard of living, environmental preservation, quality and stability (Akame, 1999; Louca, 2006). Irrefutably, the sustained growth of this sector in the Third World Countries is indisputable due to unsustain urbanization, limited investment and government priorities. Its current and future development could lead to more economic diversifications, non-natural resource reliance and multiplier effects on the local and global economy notwithstanding. (Waugh., 2002) noted a trickle-down effect of recreational services expansion in many developing countries. In Africa, this development has for a very long time been among the top earnings for most countries bringing in collective revenue of $168 billion and creating jobs for over 24.6 million people in 2019 alone. Of late, Africa also has the most youthful segment of population of any continent in the world and recreational services are the fastest growing industry especially in Morocco, South Africa, Namibia and Kenya due to affluence, awareness and government priorities. However, these sectors are unfolding at the risk of urban growth, low investment and socioeconomic and environmental changes (UNWTO, 2019).

Background to the study

  Historically, we can trace the origins of many of our contemporary views of leisure and related cultural customs to the traditions and practices of ancient cultures (Jones, 2016). In the long run, industrialization brought the reduction of work-time. The hours per year committed to work have declined in the industrial West in a range from 3,000–3,600 to 1,800–2,000 from 1840 to the presenn the long run, industrialization brought the reduction of work-time. The hours per year committed to work have declined in the industrial West in a range from 3,000–3,600 to 1,800–2,000 from 1840 to the present (John Blank, 1999). Thus, recreational facilities and other leisure facilities especially sports originated from many sources which were practice by primitive societies for entertainment. The game of tlachtli, widely practiced in Central America centuries ago, is an example of such a contest or facilities (John, 1997). As time went on, different societies began to introduce different recreational facilities naming theme differently (Bartlett, 2016). Some of these societies that practice recreational facilities and leisure were ancient Egypt, Ancient Assyria and Babylonia, Ancient Israel, Ancient Greece and ancient Rome (Susan, 2005).

The period extending from the mid-nineteenth through the early twentieth century is referred to by recreation scholars as the public recreation movement. The period was characterized by the widespread development of organized recreation activities and facilities by government and voluntary agencies with the intent of achieving desirable social outcomes. There were four major streams of development during the public recreation movement: the adult education movement; the development of national, state, and municipal parks; the establishment of voluntary organizations; and the playground movement. Dominant scholers championed the aspects of recreational facilities and it development. Amongst these people’s we can site president theodore roosevelt.

As president, Theodore Roosevelt, a dedicated outdoorsman, encouraged the acquisition of numerous new areas for the federal park system, including many new forest preserves, historic and scientific sites, and wildlife refuges. Thanks in part to his assistance and support, the Reclamation Act of 1902, which authorized reservoir-building irrigation systems in the West, was passed, along with the Antiquities Act of 1906, which designated the first national monuments. Establishment of the U.S. Forest Service in 1905 and of the National Park Service 11 years later helped place many of the scattered forests, parks, and other sites under more clearly defined policies for acquisition, development, and use. (Michael, 1947). All these recreational facilities provided in the past aided social cohesion and behavior from adult to teenage. A good example is Religion and social class were major factors that influenced recreational involvement in terms of either prohibiting certain forms of activity or assigning them to one class or another. (Reed, 1967). Leisure, seen as an aristocratic devotion to knowledge, the arts, athletics, philosophy, and contemplation in ancient Athens, took a different form in Rome, where it became a political instrument devoted to perpetuating the rule of the Roman emperors by entertaining and placating the common people. During the Dark and Middle Ages, the Catholic Church placed a strong value on work and worship and sought to prohibit forms of play that had descended from pagan sources. However, such activities as sport and games, music, dance, the theater, and gambling persisted, even under the stern condemnation of the new Protestant sects that gained influence during the period of the Reformation. (John et., 2016). All this showing the persistent nature of anti social behavior and it continuity in the society.

Conceptually, in recent times there has been increasing use of active recreational facilities in urban centers and the world at large, however these recreational facilities play important role in the development and improvement of the economy as well as the human wellbeing and lifestyles. Recreation is defined as a pleasurable, socially sanctioned activity that restores the individual, concomitant with the experience of leisure (Simmons and Moore: in Jafari and Xiao, 2016). Also, according to the Standard Instrument, a recreation facility (indoor) means a building or place used predominantly for indoor recreation, whether or not operated for the purposes of gain. Humphrey (2023) define recreational facilities and services constitutes an integral part of the tourism industry which enhances individual happiness and contributes to overall local development of communities.

    With regards to anti-social behavior, Anti-social behaviours (ASB) is a broad term often used to describe a range of actions and behaviours that violate social norms in specific contexts (Elena, 2022). Anti-social behaviours are often associated with youth, however this is not an issue that is singularly confined to young people. Anti-social behaviours can have a negative impact on individuals, families and communities, affect mental and physical and well-being and are associated with considerable social and fiscal costs to society. According to Collette (2022), Anti-social behavior (ASB) is considered in terms of common sense understandings of acceptable and unacceptable; other definitions include oppositional type behaviours; while others conflate ASB with more serious criminal behaviours. Thus, the manifestation of anti-social behavior is common in families, school, neighborhood community and even the society at large.

     Theoretically the evolution and importance of theory in leisure and recreation study have been recognized as essential to broaden understandings of recreation and leisure (Karla, 2004). The use of theory in leisure studies in the U.S. and Canada has not evolved in the same way as in Europe as well as Africa (Merton, 1949). The study of leisure in North America sometimes is criticized as atheoretical. Professionals in recreation and leisure often focus more on providing services than building a body of base knowledge. Theory and practice are sometimes dichotomized. Yet, many recreational facilities like Leisure, beaches and tourism researcher have suggested how theory is essential for professional growth and quality services in the understanding of this concept (Bedini & Wu, 1994; Devine & Wilhite, 1999; Ellis, 1993; Henderson, 1994; Iso-Ahola. 1986; Riddick, DeShriver, & Weissinger, 1984). A variety of theories are application in this study areas such as the theory of urban livability. This theory shows those urban facilities such as leisure, sports, healthcare and housing that a city has to offer play important roles in promoting livability (livelihood) and thus, a means to reduce anti-social behaviors.

    In Cameroon, a variety of recreational facilities are prominent ranging from tourism sites if natural origin and build up like the numerous waterfalls and beaches, build up palaces and hotels or guess houses scattered all over the country, insecurity has become endemic as it has persisted for many years despite the presence of security forces and their attempts to tackle it (Laub, 2023). Thus has greatly reduced the utilization of some significant recreational facilities in the country. This has also affected recreation center and facilities in our study area. Regardless of this challenge, this study seeks to examine recreational facilities as a strategy to curb anti-social behavior amongst youth in Bamenda.

Contextually, Articles 24 of the Universal Declarations of Human Right (2001) consider leisure as a basic fundamental human right. Thus, Recreation does not only make use of natural sites (Tennessee Department of Environment and conservation, 2012). Bringing to the notion build up recreational site or facilities and services. Some of these are swimming pools, sport grounds, spars and hotels. The recreational system is social in nature, since its central object is a person, and its main purpose is the physical and spiritual improvement of people (Abubakirova et al., 2016). With regards to the provision of recreation center or facilities, both the state and private individuals partake in it (Ante, 2017).

      From the global perspective, in a broader sense infrastructure includes physical, legal, environmental and mental amenities which contribute to making tourism product enjoyable, reliable and sustainable (Khadaroo, 2016). In the developed countries like Croatia, America, China, Japan and Paris most recreational facilities are often treated as pubic goods (Lena, 2017). Like in the case of Croatia, most recreational facilities are guided by laws (Elko, 2017). Still in the developed countries, According to Gregory (2020), recreational facilities increase the risk of crime occurring due mainly to the fact that they attract a large number of motivated offenders and suitable targets to a particular location; this is exclusively a real case in the United States and Europe. Meanwhile, it is a fundamental role government to build and promote people-oriented cities than the political power based cities in urban areas like China. Therefore, the concept of “leisure cities” and “healthy cities” has been widely promoted and implemented in many urban areas in China (Ding, 2020). Thus, recreational facilities play important role in human physical and mental health (Ali Raza, 2019), and also determine the social welfare of the economy.

    In the developing countries, Recreational facilities are important part of green spaces. It has become a decisive force in the development of recreational opportunities in many developing countries like Malaysia and Singapore, Nigeria, Ghana and Cameroon (Solangi, 2019). According to Reena (2022) our lives rotate around work and recreation. Like in the case of Pakistan recreation center like shopping malls act as a binding factor to bring together family, friend, create leisure, entertainment and reduce social depression which often results to indecent activities in the society (Yasira, 2022). Thus, recreational facilities and services often consume plenty of people time especially if the people feel peace and comfortable around it. Thus, individual characteristics influence recreational activity regarding the location and environmental factors that tend to affect the residents’ behaviours in terms of wellness (Plys, 2018)

Statement of the research problem

In Bamenda, the Availability of recreational facilities is too limited and lack some specific aspects that could attract audience. This is with regards to funding and improvement of these facilities such as stadiums for sports, improve hotel facilities, playground and others. There may exist some of these facilities but yet lack update and recognition especially as the facilities is hardly modify or improved. 

Also, limited accessibility of some recreational facilities swimming pools, sport complex and stadium, old people keeping houses and playground has been a problem in Bamenda. This is with regards to their location, age limit of accessibility and price tags. Even though most youths in these areas do access these facilities, there is a limitation as most of the residents and youths in Bamenda see leisure and recreation as less important especially the moderate and low income earners who are dominant in the Bamenda.

Some recreational offering centers might be diverse but a majority of those in Bamenda are not diverse or are limited to a specific recreational facility like only hotels facilities and swimming pools. In most cases, youth utilizations of this facility are limited. Whereas some financially stable men and youths used this to continuous to commit anti-social crimes in the community. 

 Significant recreational facilities have emerged in Bamenda where youth and positively utilizing it. Recreational activities are being experience such as leisure around hotel and guest houses, entertainment with a lot of upcoming artist building career using these facilities and earning a living via it. This are bars, snacks, and road site seating benches. These facilities were meant to reduce social unacceptable behavior but the reduce is happening with the too much drug abuse and alcoholism in these center, sex abuses and fighting amongst youths.

  Recreational facilities and it development in Bamenda has drop with reasons attributed to the socio economic crisis that is hampering smooth functioning of activities in the area.

Couple’s to this, most of these swimming pools, playgrounds, siting site, entertainment site and clubs and hotel are dirty and unkempt.

Objectives of the research

This research will be broken into main and specific objectives as follows.

Main Objective

To understand how recreational facilities aid in curbing Anti-social behavior amongst youth in Bamenda

Specific Objectives

1. To find out how swimming pool can act as a determinant to antisocial behavior amongst youth in Bamenda
2. To examine the Impacts of music in curbing anti-social behavior in Bamenda
3. To identify the challenges faced by hotels in curbing anti-social behaviours amongst youth in Bamenda

Research Questions

Main research question

How does recreational facilities aid in curbing antisocial behaviours amongst youth in Bamenda?

Specific research questions

1 How does swimming pool aid in curbing anti-social behavior amongst youth in Bamenda?

2. How does music impacts youth behaviours toward reducing anti-social crimes.
3. How does challenges faced by hotels in curbing anti-social behaviours amongst youth in Bamenda