Economic contribution of active sport tourism: The case of four sport activities in Messinia, Greece

Abstract

The literature on the economic impact of sport tourism is largely dominated by studies on sport events, with a smaller body of work being dedicated to that of active sport tourism. In this paper, four sport tourism activities (golf, windsurfing, horse riding, and scuba diving) being developed in Messinia, a region of south-western Greece, are studied and compared in terms of their contribution to the local economy. Visitor expenditure surveys were conducted for each activity, yielding a total of 353 diaries and questionnaires. Spending was then analysed in terms of (a) average and total expenditures, (b) distribution among different categories of businesses, and (c) geographical distribution. Moreover, sport tourists were distinguished by whether participation in each activity constituted the primary motivation for their trip or not. As sport tourists attach varying levels of importance to the activity, the survey also used a scale measuring its level of influence on their decision to visit the region. One of the main conclusions is that – by examining the relative rather than individual contribution of the four activities – golf can be viewed in our study as a propulsive activity, not only to the local economy, but also in the sport tourism context. Managerial implications stemming from the results as well as certain considerations when conducting an economic impact analysis are also discussed.