The document discusses factors that influence the distribution and location of sports and tourist facilities. It explains that the availability of leisure facilities depends on the size of the settlement, and each facility is determined by its threshold population, catchment area or sphere of influence, and maximum travel range. Key factors that influence where facilities are located include accessibility, land costs, physical characteristics of the location, historical traditions, socio-economic characteristics of demand, and level of government support.

1. The Sphere of Influence for Leisure
Activities

2. Syllabus links
Variations in sphere of influence for different
kinds of sporting and touristic facility, including
neighbourhood parks and gyms, city stadiums
and national parks

3. The ‘Leisure Hierarchy’
The availability of leisure facilities varies according
to the size of the settlement. Each leisure facility is
influenced by:
• Its threshold population – the number of people
needed to support the facility
• Its catchment area or sphere of influence – the
size of the area that the facility serves
• Its range – the maximum distance people are
prepared to travel to use the facility

8. What factors influence the distribution of sports & Tourist
facilities?
Accessibility
Those that need high
threshold populations tend
to be located in the centre
eg. Shopping malls
Land cost
Those that require more
space tend to be in the
suburbs and beyond eg.
Golf courses.
Physical characteristics
Some leisure facilities need
certain physical characteristics
eg. A river for rowing, scenic
wonders for a national park.
History/Tradition
Some sports stadiums
are located near the
centre as they were built
before land prices rose.
Socio-Econ characteristics
Some facilities are located
where they have demand
from particular groups eg.
Gyms for the upwardly
mobile.
Government support
Some facilities (recreation
centres) are built with
public $ to encourage a
healthier, more cohesive
community.