Broad Prosperity is an opportunity to put the leisure domain on the broad agenda

Broad Prosperity is about the subjective well-being of people (the 'quality of life here and now') and that is more than just thinking in terms of material prosperity. Success is not only measured in economic indicators but also in social, ecological, and community indicators. Broad prosperity is also about later, about the quality of life for later generations and that of people elsewhere in the world.

Broad prosperity fits perfectly with the search underway in the leisure domain; giving substance to the change from thinking that things will go well if there are more visitors, more spending, more jobs, and more turnover to thinking in terms of adding social value, allowing destinations to flourish, and creating balance to prevent negative excesses from arising. Broad prosperity fits perfectly and is enormously attractive. If it were not for the fact that the concept is a collective concept, abstract and monitoring broad prosperity does not simply provide management information - as could be read in the article 'Vague definition of 'broad prosperity' opens the door to political opportunism' in the FD of November 8, 2023. Yet it is interesting and relevant for the leisure economy. Moreover, the concept will last for a while.

1. Broad prosperity requires different thinking about the leisure domain. From economics to broad social values. But also from sector to facet/theme. From leisure economy to leisure domain. Whatever words we choose, we start to see broader connections. Broad prosperity 'here and now' has seven themes; health, society, working and learning, environment, housing, material prosperity and well-being, and safety. Broad prosperity 'later' has three themes; economic, human, natural, and social capital. Broad prosperity 'elsewhere' has four themes; trade and aid, the greenhouse gas footprint, imports of raw materials in general, and those from the least developed countries in particular. These themes provide a lot of inspiration for starting points, which are far from complete.
2. Broad prosperity requires action from the leisure domain. For example, it formulates which indicators matter, which indicators people focus on and that actions also have effect and impact. However, the current Broad Prosperity Monitor includes 42 indicators, divided over various themes (see above). The leisure domain potentially contributes to many, if not all. However, can we also make this explicit? What relationships are there? What correlations are there so that we can start talking about the effects of one thing on the other? What impact can ultimately be determined? In (applied) research, we increasingly work with an 'impact pathway', how research and projects ultimately lead to social impact, which can help and in a sense force people to think about this.

3. Broad prosperity is an opportunity for the leisure domain. It provides a broad framework for thinking and thus inspiration not to approach the leisure domain too narrowly, or to make it too small. The leisure domain can show in its own unique and specific way how it contributes to broad prosperity and in what way, via associated indicators. If we do this, ideally, we will develop better residential areas where people are central, we will limit greenhouse gases, people will become/stay healthier so healthcare costs will rise less, and we will handle raw materials carefully. These themes are important for the leisure domain to contribute to but are still not included on the agendas enough. Because, in the perception of many, the leisure domain is limited to attracting more visitors through marketing and generating more income – in short, the old way of thinking.

Let us not fall into the trap of opportunism when working with broad prosperity. Let us use the concept to make explicit, broadly but also very precisely, the value of the leisure domain for society and to put the added value of the leisure domain on the agenda in other processes and (policy) themes. This is necessary to seize opportunities that otherwise are missed. Specific professional knowledge about the leisure domain of our future students is needed, now and in the future. Developing sector-specific knowledge through applied research is also necessary. From the Center of Expertise Leisure, Tourism & Hospitality (CELTH), we invite you to take on these challenges with us.

Stefan Hartman

Thememanager Organisational Capacity for CELTH and Head of Department at the European Tourism Futures Institute

[1] CBS (2023) Definities van Brede Welvaart. https://www.cbs.nl/nl-nl/dossier/brede-welvaart-en-de-sustainable-devel…