In places, a tourist centre offers healthy recreation (6)
I believe the answer is:
sports
'offers healthy recreation' is the definition.
Although both the answer and definition are verbs in their -s form, I cannot see how one could define the other.
'in places a tourist centre' is the wordplay.
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'places' becomes 'sorts' (I am not sure about this - if you are sure you should believe this answer much more).
'a tourist' becomes 'tripper' (tripper is a kind of tourist).
'centre' means to look at the middle letters.
The middle letter of 'tripper' is 'p'.
'sorts' placed around 'p' is 'SPORTS'.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for sports that I've seen before include "Wears; mutated creatures" , "Eg, football, tennis" , "Football, tennis etc." , "Football, badminton etc." , "like a day at school" .)