Comparative Study on Eastern and Western Leisure Policy in the Perspective of Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory

Abstract

The leisure industry has developed rapidly since the 1950s and gradually got governments’ attention and become an important part of people’s daily life. Some western countries, such as the United Kingdom, the United Sates, New Zealand, Denmark, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Brazil and some Eastern countries like Japan, Korea and China have invested capital, introduced policies and set up facilities to support the development of the leisure industry. Research on leisure policies and leisure industry is developing both at home and abroad during these years. Based on all the research on leisure policies found from home and abroad, this paper analyzes the reasons for the differences between eastern and western policies with Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory. The thesis then draws conclusions concerning the similarities and features of eastern and western countries as well as how China can learn from these countries’ leisure policies. This research is expected to make contributions to the development of Chinese leisure policy and leisure industry.