Adventure as a Cultural Foundation: Sport and Tourism in New Zealand

Abstract

This article examines the cultural foundations of sport, tourism and sport tourism within the New Zealand context. Guided by sociologist Pierre Bourdieu's concepts, the theoretical perspective is that all practice is infused with and reflects culture. The article examines three iconic representatives who traverse the sport, tourism and sport tourism fields. The ‘distinction’ of their narratives highlights how cultural foundations have been (re)negotiated over the last hundred years. The All Blacks rugby team, mountaineer Sir Edmund Hillary and A.J. Hackett Bungy Jumping are analysed in relation to prominent theoretical notions of each field and the pioneer mythology of New Zealand's post-colonial culture. Discussion focuses on the diverse, changing and renewed practices and narratives of these three cultural representatives. It is argued that in New Zealand, and potentially in other Western societies, the central cultural foundation of sport, tourism and sport tourism is the serendipity of practice and uncertainty of outcome – fundamentally, adventure. Sport tourism destinations and operators cannot rely on the replication of past events and practices for success. Although promotional narratives should link to past cultural myths or iconic representatives, sport tourism practice must provide the space and potential for uncertainty. The sustainability of sport tourism requires the packaging and framing of serendipity through the continual (re)invention of experience that facilitates adventure.