Constraints to Sport Tourism: A Cross-Cultural Analysis

Abstract

Previous studies related to sport tourism and culture have tended to focus broadly on sport as a cultural tourist attraction rather than culture as an influence on sport tourism participation. This study used a constraint-based approach to drive research questions related to culture and sport tourism, focusing on the activity of downhill skiing. Qualitative methods were used to explore the value of a new model for leisure constraints, a model that recognizes the importance of culture as well as the traditional concepts of intrapersonal, interpersonal and structural constraints. Interviews and focus groups were conducted with Chinese-Canadians and Anglo-Canadians. Themes of motivations, constraints and constraint negotiation were found, with some interesting differences between the two cultural groups. In general, Chinese-Canadians perceived a higher number of intrapersonal constraints, whereas for Anglo-Canadian participants the key constraints were structural in nature. Self-construal and cultural identity clearly have an influence on constraints and motivations.