Examining the Impacts of Mega-Events on Urban Development Using Coupling Analysis: A Case Study of the Boao Forum for Asia

Biao He,Hong Zhu,Xiaomei Cai,Jun (Justin) Li,Lianxin Zhu

doi:10.3390/su12020730

Abstract

Mega-events, as a strategic approach taken by entrepreneurial governments, have the ability to transform the image of a city. This study explores mega-events and their relationship to urban development by developing a coupling coordination degree model and using the official statistics of Qionghai, China, from 2010 to 2015. The results of this study show that the dynamic of coordination between mega-events and urban development is a classical S-shaped growth curve. In the coupling system, this study also reveals that relevance index and the economy, as sub-indicators, make significant contributions to mega-events and urban development, respectively. Finally, the researchers concluded that the international large-scale events can significantly promote the urban development in host cities. This study reveals theoretical issues and practical implications for policy makers and event managers to achieve integrated and coordinated development between mega-events and urban development.

Highlights

Over the past several decades, mega-events, such as the gourmet festivals, cultural celebrations, sports, concerts, and marathons, have been largely conducted in western countries, as well as in more developed event-tourist destinations
Host cities generally attach significant factors to urban development, including the event’s pulling effect on economic growth, income derived from the event, and tourism generated by the event
The second objective of this study is to evaluate the contributions of selected urbanization and mega-event subsystem indicators and identify the greatest respective contributions made by the indicators of each system

Summary

Introduction

Over the past several decades, mega-events, such as the gourmet festivals, cultural celebrations, sports, concerts, and marathons, have been largely conducted in western countries, as well as in more developed event-tourist destinations. The popularity of such events is increasing, and many developing countries and cities have started to provide financial and policy advisory support for them in recent years. Increasing attention has been paid to the host city of large-scale events, which can stimulate economic growth and strengthen the place of local culture in global agendas

Objectives

Methods

Results