Sport Tourism Research Research Articles

The microadventure: a new or renewed kind of sports tourism?

This article examines microadventuring in light of existing sports tourism research. The methodology used was qualitative, and ten semi-structured interviews were conducted. Results show the microadventure to be a marketing concept in sync with the changes currently happening to nature sports in today’s society, a fluidity that means it cannot be considered a new phenomenon. It is part of the changing relationship that humans have with nature, and how they use it for sporting purposes, and is rather an updating or revisiting of older forms of leisure in a contemporary context. Microadventurers have an idealised vision of nature, seeing it as a training ground filled with positive values, thus perpetuating representations. The self-organisation aspect and participant stances on ecology and image reflect how microadventuring aligns with the values and motivations of the most affluent sectors of the population.

A Comparison Study on the Behavioral Intention of Marathon Runners in the United States and China

ABSTRACT Marathons are significant sports events that can boost the regional economy. This study aims to examine the determinants of marathon runners’ behavioral intentions. Based on the 944 questionnaires collected in the Chicago and Xiamen Marathons in 2019, structural equation modeling, bootstrapping, and ordinary least squares regression methods are applied for the analysis. It reveals that event image and event quality can enhance destination personality which further positively influences runners’ behavioral intentions toward both cities. It also shows that destination personality mediates between event image, event quality, and behavioral intention for runners in both events. These findings have important implications for sports tourism research in various cultural contexts.

Sports tourism research: A bibliometric analysis and agenda for further inquiry

This study examines the origins, significant subjects, scientific advances, and future advancements in sports tourism research. We run a bibliometric analysis in R with the visualization tool Biblioshiny. The findings revealed four main clusters that have recently been examined in the knowledge domain: (1) sport tourist behaviors, (2) sustainable and economic development, (3) sports events and destination image, and (4) active-sport-event travel career progression. This study gives insight into the role of mega and small sports events in sustainable development in a tourist destination and identifies opportunities and limitations.

A literature review of sports tourism research: knowledge graph analysis based on CiteSpace visualization

ABSTRACT The integration of sports and tourism has produced many research results, but the emergence of new disciplines has also brought about confusion in academic context. Using bibliometric analysis method, this paper analyzes the knowledge graph of 379 articles on ‘sports tourism’ collected from 2013 to 2021. It is found that the research hotspot of sports tourism mainly focuses on the concept of sports tourism, the theory of sports tourism, the case study of sports tourism, and the scale of sports tourism industry. From the branch evolution path analysis, it is found that sports tourism research mainly focuses on tourism nostalgia research, sports tourism risk perception research, sports tourism event development, sports tourism sustainable development and so on. Finally, the future research trend is prospected reasonably.

Predicting Japanese sport tourist behaviour: an extension of theory of planned behaviour with tourism ideal affect

ABSTRACT Theoretically-informed studies and theoretical integration remain overdue in the field of sport tourism. This study focused on the theory of planned behaviour (TPB) for a critical engagement with the theory that researchers have already been employing in sport tourism research, and tourism ideal affect developed based on the affect valuation theory for those that have yet to be critically applied in sport tourism. The study aimed to investigate (a) TPB’s predictive power of intention and actual behaviour in sport tourism contexts, and (b) whether such predictive power can be enhanced by adding tourism ideal affect. Two-wave data collection was implemented in Japan, involving 418 adults. The findings demonstrated that TPB could significantly predict intention and actual behaviour in sport tourism contexts. Subjective norm predicted intention, while intention predicted sport tourism behaviour. Although adding tourism ideal affect did not improve the predictive power of intention and actual behaviour, tourism ideal low-arousal positive affect was found to be negatively related to sport tourism behaviour. Along with theoretical contributions, this research suggests that strengthening promotions involving tourists’ significant others (e.g. adding family components) by targeting Japanese people who have a lower level of tourism ideal low-arousal positive affect may be an effective approach to further sport tourism development in Japan.

The influence of prospective event spectators’ risk-taking tendency on COVID-19 risk perception and information-seeking: the case of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games

ABSTRACT Due to the risk of COVID-19, the 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games were staged without spectators for the first time in modern Olympic history. Health risks, including pandemics such as COVID-19 and SARS, have caused a serious concern for event participants, stakeholders, and tourists. While seeking information on risks posed by particular destinations is an essential step when making travel decisions, especially during a pandemic, there is limited sport tourism research that scrutinized the relationship between prospective travellers’ health risk perceptions in the specific context of COVID-19. This article examines the relationship between prospective spectators’ risk perception toward COVID-19 and their information-seeking about the virus, with a specific focus on the moderating effect of spectators’ risk-taking tendency in the context of their intention to attend the Games. The study involved a survey of 240 South Korean and 286 American prospective spectators. Prospective spectators perceived COVID-19 as a source of severe risk, significantly decreasing their intention to travel to the destination. This study found positive associations between COVID-19 risk perception and information-seeking and between information-seeking and intent to attend. The results imply that information-seeking regarding the pandemic in the host region is an important predictor of prospective spectators’ attendance because seeking information demonstrates an intention to attend despite a perception of high risk. Furthermore, this paper makes a cross-national comparison of the implications of the moderating role of an individual’s risk-taking tendency.

Review and Prospect of China's Ice and Snow Sports Tourism Research

In this paper, literature related to ice and snow sports tourism in China in recent ten years is reviewed, and it is found that the research mainly focuses on the comprehensiveness of ice and snow sports tourism development and development, market operation, consumers, economic construction, resources, Industrial chain and industrial clusters, etc. In general, qualitative research is the majority, and there are problems such as repeated generalization of research objects and homogenization of research content, and the practical significance and value depth also need to be strengthened. Therefore, it is suggested that the future research on China's ice and snow sports tourism should focus on the integration of methods and complement each other qualitatively and quantitatively; break through regional limitations and strengthen micro-case thinking; expand the scope of research and deepen the practical significance of the content; emphasize the value of cooperation and promote the diversified development of the field.

Will destination image drive the intention to revisit and recommend? Empirical evidence from golf tourism

PurposeDespite being a popular topic in sports tourism research, limited studies have focused on golf tourism in relation to destination image. The present study aimed to examine the impact of country-related factors on the destination image among golf tourists as well as the interrelationships between perceived service quality, perceived value, satisfaction and behavioural intention in this context in the Malaysian context. Excitement was also examined as a moderator of the relationship between satisfaction and behavioural intention.Design/methodology/approachData was collected from 360 golf tourists using a self-administered questionnaire at the two largest airports (KLIA and KLIA2) in Malaysia. Data analysis was performed using the partial least squares structural equation modelling (PLS-SEM) technique.FindingsThe findings present the significance of country-related factors (i.e. accessibility, safety and security and golf course setting) in determining the image of Malaysia as a golf tourism destination. Destination image, in turn, is found to influence golf tourists' perceived service quality, perceived value and satisfaction; with both perceived service quality and perceived value acting as mediators between destination image and satisfaction. Moreover, the moderation assessment confirms that the level of excitement about golfing in Malaysia strengthens the relationship between their satisfaction and behavioural intention.Originality/valueThis study is one of the few that focuses on the consequential importance of destination image within the golf tourism setting. It highlights the mediating role of perceived service quality and perceived value as well as the moderating role of excitement in understanding the effect of destination image on satisfaction and behavioural intention of golf tourists.

Review of the Research on Ethnic Sports Tourism in China

Ethnic sports culture is an important part of ethnic culture. The development of ethnic sports tourism is conducive to the intergenerational transmission and development of sports culture and the enhancement of “cultural confidence”, as well as the development and utilisation of ethnic sports tourism resources. Based on an analysis of ethnic sports tourism literature in China, this paper first reviews the historical course of ethnic sports tourism research, which can be divided into three stages: exploration, development and improvement. Provincial research locations are analysed at different stages. Secondly, the main content of ethnic sports tourism research is summarised under five headings: definition, resource evaluation, development and utilisation, brand building and marketing management. The research methods used are then analysed. Finally, in order to provide a reference for the in-depth study of ethnic sports tourism in the future, the paper makes four recommendations. These include introducing pluralistic theory, focusing on stakeholders as the subject of research, improving the quantitative evaluation of ethnic sports tourism resources, and exploring the impact of ethnic sports tourism.

An overall assessment of sports tourism articles

PurposeThe purpose of this study aims to examine sports tourism through a conceptual lens. The study offers a deep assessment of the general structure and purpose of sports tourism. Thus, the authors aim to determine the contributions of scientific studies in the field of sports tourism to sports tourism literature.Design/methodology/approachA qualitative research design was created and data collected using document analysis. The research articles were categorized and analyzed according to their objectives, journals of publication, keywords, application areas, research methods used, data collection techniques and findingsFindingsIt was been determined that the research articles in the field of sports tourism contributed significantly to the sports tourism literature and to the cumulative progress of the field.Research limitations/implicationsThe implications of this study is that only publications in the field of sports tourism (in the tourism category) indexed in the Web of Science between 2014 and 2018 were examined.Practical implicationsStudies to be carried out in the field of sports tourism should be seen as continuations, rather than repetitions, of one another. Thus, more information about the field of sports tourism is needed to better articulate the structure of the field for the benefit of future researchers.Social implicationsThere is a need for studies to contribute to the development of sports tourism in the literature. This study aims to take a step in this direction. With the increase of activities to be carried out in both the field and practice of sports tourism, a better relationship will be established between sports, local people and relevant stakeholders.Originality/valueMore theoretical studies in this field (Gibson, 1998a; Soedjatmiko, 2015) suggest that the field of sports tourism can be further developed. In light of this call, the present study will provide an overview of sports tourism research as a whole, thus contributing to future research by its own merits. It will guide the authors to determine how activities in the field of sports tourism have grown and how they are progressing

Supplemental tourism activities: a conceptual framework to maximise sport tourism benefits and opportunities

ABSTRACT Theoretical integration has been called for in sport tourism research in order to capture the synergies of existing contributions. In response, this article proposes a conceptual framework of supplemental tourism activities, which are motivated by secondary and/or tertiary tourism attractions that complement or reinforce tourism benefits and opportunities bestowed by a primary tourism attraction. This is achieved by integrating the sport and non-sport interactions into Hinch and Higham’s (2001) sport tourism attraction system. The conceptual framework presents three types of supplemental tourism activities that interplay not only within the four categories of sport tourism attractions (spectator-based events, participation-based events, active sports, heritage sports), but also across non-sport tourism attractions. The theoretical and practical implications are discussed in the specific context of Japan, and future directions for research are identified. A clear appreciation of supplemental tourism activities will help regional and national tourism organisations and businesses to understand and maximise the tourism benefits and opportunities associated with sports.

Influence of Event and Place Image on Residents’ Attitudes Toward and Support for Events

Analyzing residents’ support for events has become popular in sports tourism research. Based on the social exchange theory and the theory of reasoned action, this study tests a model of support for the 2018 UCI Road World Championships (N = 2,265). The findings show that the perceived image fit between an event and a place significantly influences residents’ overall attitude and event support. Furthermore, overall attitude mediates the relationship between the perceived fit and event support. This study supplements the literature (a) by testing the fit between event image and place image and its influence on residents’ attitude and support, (b) by analyzing the image fit of a summer sports event held in a well-known designated winter sports region, and (c) by providing recommendations for policy makers to achieve higher support from residents when bidding for and hosting sports events.

Present Analysis and Prospect of the Development of Sports Tourism in China

Development of leisure tourism in China is very fast. In this paper, using the method ofdocumentary, mathematical statistics, statistics to study the development of Chinese sportstourism fair and the number of research papers on sports tourism in China, and studied thecourse of sports tourism in China's colleges and universities to establish, analyzed the currentsituation of sports tourism research. The research results show that think of sports tourism inChina at an early stage of development, the development of sports tourism resources has notbeen fully, sports tourism market huge development potential and space.

Economic Value of Cultural Development of Chinese Sports Tourism Research

Economic Value of Cultural Development of Chinese Sports Tourism Research

国内スポーツツーリズム研究の系統的レビュー

国内スポーツツーリズム研究の系統的レビュー

Towards a critical sport heritage: implications for sport tourism

ABSTRACTThis paper reflects upon the development and increased acceptance for heritage becoming a key component of sport tourism research. The original sport heritage typology, as posited by Ramshaw and Gammon [2005, More than just Nostalgia? Exploring the heritage/sport tourism nexus. Journal of Sport & Tourism, 10(4), 229–241], is re-examined through a more critical lens, revealing additional dimensions that help augment its key components. More specifically, it is argued that future studies should consider the more intangible features of sport heritage, as well as acknowledging the expanding global nature of sport and its impact upon fandom. Also, the case is made for research to explore the dissonance inherent in much of sports heritage, as well as determining where the power lies in allocating and championing current sport heritages. Lastly, the more general implications to the field of sport tourism are offered with particular regard to motivation, place, and consumption.

Defining sport tourism: a content analysis of an evolving epistemology

ABSTRACTThis paper conducts a systematic evaluation of one of the primary journals in the field of sport tourism research since its establishment in 1993. Drawing on extant literature with varying disciplinary approaches, this meta-review traces the development of key concepts and definitions underlying an evolving epistemology connected to sport tourism, as evidenced within the Journal of Sport & Tourism (JS&T). It does so by examining research specific to content previously unexplored. The study first conducted a content analysis based upon a keyword search, focusing on phrases in which sport and tourism appeared together. The study reviewed all texts, including articles, book chapters and editorials (n = 517), for the years 1993–2014. We then constructed a thematic analysis based upon the most common defining elements found within these texts. These extracted definitions were analyzed according to their paradigmatic elements. Based on these findings, this paper suggests the need to further define the epistemological boundaries of sport tourism for the twenty-first century.

Intimations of postmodernity in sports tourism at the Tour de France

Despite the burgeoning literature on sports tourism research the area is dominated by descriptive and anachronistic typologies. Consequently, some scholars have called for greater connectivities between sports tourism and related academic specialities. Accordingly, this article uses a case study of the 2011 Tour de France to suggest how sports tourism research can benefit from the sociological perspective of postmodernism. We support our argument by focusing on processes of mobile subjectivities and perceived authenticity among members of a commercially organised cycling and spectating trip.

The Cogency of Culture in Sport Tourism Research

There is a falsehood that is perpetuated in sporting circles. If you work in sport, you will hear it many times. If you attend international sport meetings, you will hear it again and again, as if ...

Progress in sports tourism research? A meta-review and exploration of futures

This meta-review examines the journeys that previous reviewers of the field of sports tourism have take over the sports tourism research terrain. The contested nature of core concepts (terminology, categories and the nature of the phenomena), dominant research areas (event sports tourism, a trend from impacts to leveraging research, often poor quality behavioural research, destination marketing and media, and resident perceptions), and the extent to which research is underpinned by, or rooted in, various subjects and/or disciplines, are all discussed. Various futures envisaged by previous reviewers are identified; in particular: management futures, knowledge futures, futures of the nature of sports tourism, and critical and challenging futures. In conclusion, it is suggested that a clear indicator of the maturity of sports tourism as a field of study would be a ‘comfortableness’ with the existence of contested perspectives and ideas, and a reflexive appreciation of the strengths and weaknesses of research in the field, particularly in response to external challenges and critiques.