Evaluation of expert opinions on the employment of recreation specialists and proposal for an employment policy model

Organizations providing recreation services within the recreation industry emerge with varying needs in every society. Factors such as the rapid integration of technology into societal life, changes in lifestyles, and the inclination of people towards different activities have led to the continuous evolution and development of the recreation industry. In response to the increasing demand, it is necessary for organizations offering recreation services to update themselves and entrust the recreation work to specialists. In this context, the aim of this study is to identify what needs to be done for the employment of recreation specialists, employment-enhancing solutions, potential employment areas, and to propose an employment policy model. The study's population was composed of 9 academics, 3 managers, and 3 expert participants working in the field of recreation, selected through purposive sampling. A semi-structured interview form was prepared with the opinions of 9 experts using the Lawshe technique. Interviews with participants were conducted using expert evaluation questions to develop a theoretical model, and the interviews were analyzed using content and thematic analysis methods. Based on the data obtained, consensus was achieved through the Delphi technique with evaluations from 8 experts. As a result of the analyses and evaluations, the necessary conditions for the employment of recreation specialists were determined, and an employment policy model was established.