Effects of Sport Tourism on Temperate Grassland Communities (Duna-Ipoly National Park, Hungary)

Abstract

Abstract. Effects of sport tourism were examined in dry grassland stands with fix sample plots in four sites of strictly protected areas of Buda Mountains and Pilis in Duna-Ipoly National Park in the vicinity of Budapest (Hungary). The size of all sample plots was 2×2 m in all sites, we designated 4×10 sampling quadrats and 4×10 control quadrats. The date of surveying was in May and July in 2013. The sampling sites were exposed to different type of illegal sport activities. The questions we tried to answer were which changes were caused by different sport activities, is the nature protection work in the surveyed areas effective enough. Data of sample and control plots were analyzed by multivariate analyses. The species composition of parallel plots of samples and controls were compared with their ecological parameters. According to the results of cluster analysis and redundancy analysis, the composition of species of the sample plots deviated from the control plots and the difference between them were at Pilis site the most considerable. In the sample plots the rate of uncovered soil surface was meaningful and the stony surface and the leaf litter cover were higher there than in the control plots. At the sample plots the distribution of social behaviour categories showed higher ratio in the categories of generalists, ruderal competitors and weeds, while the ratio in the categories of natural competitors and specialists decreased there. At the sample plots the life forms categories showed higher ratio in the categories of therophytes and chamaephytes than at the control plots.

The Effect of Visitors on the Properties of Vegetation of Calcareous Grasslands in the Context of Width and Distances from Tourist Trails

“…Also, in spite of recorded differences in the degree of cover-abundance of species representing particular life forms, depending on trail width and plot location, the similar patterns of life form spectra noticed in the majority of the study areas indicate the rejection of hypothesis (v) about the variability of species life form spectra. The performed investigations evidencing a dominance of hemicryptophytes and chamaephytes supports the findings of Dobay et al [74], arguing that the species representing the aforementioned life forms are often found in grassland areas. Roovers et al [38] observed the dominance of hemicryptophytes regardless of level recreational use in meadows, heaths, and forests, whilePescott and Stewart [75] added that vegetation dominated by hemicryptophytes recovers from trampling to a greater extent than vegetation dominated by other life forms.…”

An overall assessment of sports tourism articles

“…Having developed rapidly in recent years as a special field of interest in the travel industry (Alexandris and Kaplanidou, 2014;Alsafawi, 2017;Dobay et al, 2017), sports tourism has emerged around the needs of individuals. Sports tourism can be active or passive, and refers to the traveling organized with commercial or noncommercial motives to compete or participate in physical activities, watch physical activities or visit places related to such activities (Hinch and Higham, 2001).…”

“…Hinch and Ito (2018) have stated that sports tourism is developing in Japan but that this development also highlights the matter of sustainability. Dobay et al (2017) have attempted to find out whether nature protection works are effective in four different drylands in Duna-Ipoly National Park in the Buda Mountains and Pilis region in Budapest by examining the effects of sports tourism. Hinch and Holt (2017) aimed to gain insight into the sustainability of active sports tourism activities by emphasizing the importance of focusing on strategies for improving said activities and using these strategies intensively in the promotion and marketing of activities.…”

Analysis of Sport Motivation Factors amongst Eastern European Higher Education Students

“…Besides musical features, the organizers of both festivals put great emphasis on boosting the touristic, cultural and sport life of visitors. According to researchers, sports tourism is the most dynamically developing area of tourism (Dobay et al, 2016;Gibson, 2010). Sport and Tourism are not just about the management and operations of mega events; they also concern offering the consumer specific Sport and Tourism related services and experiences.…”