THE PERCEPTION OF LOCAL RESIDENTS ON QUALITY OF LEISURE ACTIVITIES IN TOURISM DESTINATION

Purpose - Leisure organization is an important influential factor for the quality of life of local residents as well as for the guest satisfaction in a tourism destination. The aim of this study is to explore the attitudes of the local population on leisure and their perception of the quality of organized leisure activities. through activities, events and facilities.. Methodology - The research was carried out on the example of the Wild Plants Festival, an event organized in the municipality of Krsan in Istria. Following the analysis of secondary data that defined the theoretical basis, a structured questionnaire for visitors of the Wild Plants Festival was conducted. Findings - The organization of leisure activities contributes to the quality of life for local residents, who play an important role on the tourism market as they participate in tourism activities providing the accommodation services. The results obtained also point to the importance of leisure activities for enhancing visitor's satisfaction, the attractiveness of tourism destination and as a basis for creating a tourism experience. Contribution - The paper represents a valuable contribution to the research of the leisure organization. The study of leisure organization and the impact on the satisfaction of visitors to a tourist event extends theoretical knowledge and enriches the scientific literature dealing with the topic mentioned above. The paper can be useful for the destination stakeholders and represents a starting point for the future research in the field of leisure organization.