World Leisure Organisation counts down to 2025 Congress

Set to be hosted in the Netherlands city of Breda, the upcoming 18th World Leisure Congress is set to bring together leisure professionals from over 30 countries to explore how leisure can help build more inclusive, resilient and sustainable societies.

Hosted by Breda University of Applied Sciences in partnership with the World Leisure Organization (WLO), the Congress - running from 25th to 28th August - has the theme Leisure for a Better Society and will offer sessions covering pressing topics like social justice, sustainability, digital transformation and human well-being.

This year’s program includes a rich lineup of WLO-led sessions designed for students, researchers, and professionals to explore the transformative power of leisure in diverse contexts and address the latest issues in the domain of leisure in its broadest sense, encompassing tourism, sport, recreation (active and passive, indoor and outdoor), hospitality, media and events.

Welcoming delegates from academia, government and industry to promote informative, stimulating, and challenging discussions on the latest issues in leisure, Breda University of Applied Sciences fully embraces the view that leisure should be for the benefit of all human beings.

The theme Leisure for a Better Society defines three different vantage points that give our theme focus and relevance: a social perspective, an economic perspective, and a sustainability perspective. Explaining this, an introductory letter from the Breda University of Applied Sciences advises “in modern society, the varieties of leisure constitute prominent platforms for self-expression.

“Additionally, leisure is an ever-stronger determinant of both individual and collective well-being.

“Thinking strategically about leisure as a catalyst for promoting well-being and inducing increased social and ecological sustainability is what binds together academics, governments, and industry. Furthermore, addressing these issues in the context of sustainable leisure businesses is of crucial importance to help build a better society.”

Apart from an in-depth academic programme, the Congress features an Industry Day, specifically aimed at addressing issues, challenges and opportunities within the leisure industry.

The Industry Day is organised by, with and for national and international key industry partners, and is orchestrated by the Dutch National Centre of Expertise on Leisure, Tourism, and Hospitality.

WLCE representatives join UN Tourism Panel of Experts
WLO has also revealed that three academics from its World Leisure Centers of Excellence (WLCE) network have been appointed to the UN Tourism Panel of Experts and will contribute to the World Tourism Barometer - one of the most respected global sources for tourism data and analysis.

In its role as an Affiliate Member, WLO was invited by UN Tourism to submit nominations for this influential panel.

The three members of WLCE network who now form part of the Panel of Experts are:

• Professor Dr Glauber Santos, University of São Paulo (Latin America)

• Professor Miklós Bánhidi, PhD, Hungarian University of Sports Science (Europe)

• Dr Joseph M. Cheer, Western Sydney University (Asia-Pacific)

Click here for more information on the 18th World Leisure Congress in our industry Calendar.