Supervisors info:
Μανασής Βασίλειος, ΕΕΠ, ΣΕΦΑΑ, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Sports tourism enables interaction between athletes, sports activities, and destinations. This paper aimed to examine the motivations for choosing a sports event that is not taking place in the residence's location, the factors that affect participation in a sports event, and the factors that influence place attachment.
A primary quantitative questionnaire survey was conducted to achieve the research objectives. The questionnaire was designed using reliable measurement scales from the existing literature. The sampling strategy followed was purposive and random, and the data collection resulted in the collection of 240 valid responses, consisting of 135 men and 105 women, with an age range of less than 20 to more than 60.
The results showed that the possibility of an athlete's personal performance record, socialization, and relaxation from routine are the primary motivating factors for athletes to participate in a sporting event that is not organized in their place of residence. In addition, sports exploration, social interaction, place identity, and event recommendation by friends and acquaintances influence the decision to participate in the sporting event. Meanwhile, place attachment is influenced by social interaction, proximity, event participation package, event reputation, and satisfaction. The results contribute to the theory of destination management but also have practical implications for managers and local authorities of sports events in tourist areas.
Keywords:
sporting events, tourist destinations, motivation, place attachment
