Sport Tourism: Concepts and Theories. An Introduction

Abstract

The rationale for this collection is based on a perceived need in sport tourism research and practice that the future developement of the area needs to be grounded in relevant theoretical frameworks. A theory is an explanation that is subject to revision as subsequent research supports or refutes various tenets associated with it. This collection of essays provides a compendium of theories that have been, or have the potential to be, applied to the study and practice of sport tourism. Part one is comprised of theories from a socio-cultural perspective and includes discussions on constraints, serious leisure and social identity and nostalgia sport tourism. Part two draws upon paradigms used in sport and tourism studies, those of tourist roles, destination branding, seasonality, host–guest relations and urban regeneration. Part three outlines concepts and paradigms from business studies including marketing, service quality, economics, policy and management issues.