Spreading tourists around host countries of mega sport events

Abstract

Purpose This study aims to recommend initiatives that can be adopted to overcome overtourism in host destinations of mega sport events. Design/methodology/approach This study adopts a qualitative research design that involves 20 semi-structured interviews with key informant stakeholders of the London 2012 Olympic Games. An exploratory case study approach was used to investigate strategies used to leverage tourism benefits in host destinations, and the authors used thematic analysis to present strategies to overcome overtourism in host cities. Findings This study emphasises the need for spreading tourists beyond the host city as a main strategy. To do so, three initiatives are recommended: spreading domestic tourism outside the host city, showcasing destination beyond the host city and promoting regional collaboration. Practical implications This research provides tourism practitioners and destination management organisations in host destinations of mega sport events with an advanced strategic insights to capitalise on mega sport events. The authors suggest considering the events as a theme through an event planning process to overcome potential overtourism in unique host cities. Originality/value As overtourism has an impact on visited destinations, this study argues that overtourism can be generated by mega sport events. This paper offers an extended insight into overcoming overtourism by implementing strategic event tourism, leveraging initiatives that can be extended in use to reach geographic areas beyond host cities of mega sport events.

Does it matter where to run? Intention to participate in destination marathon

“…It is documented that the host country plays a significant role in event and destination tourism (Mhanna et al , 2019). Amongst the different sectors within the tourism industry, sports tourism presents a growing opportunity that reports highest growth in many countries (Roche et al , 2013; Alsawafi, 2017).…”

Mega-sport football events’ influence on destination images: A study of the of 2016 UEFA European Football Championship in France, the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia, and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar

“…A mega-sport event may attract travelers who are not attending the sport as the main purpose of their trip and also travelers who would not have traveled to the destination if the event had not taken place there. Travelers from many different countries visit a host country for a mega-sport event, giving organizers a great opportunity to increase travel to the destination and ensure that visitors are satisfied (Mhanna, Blake, & Jones, 2019). The aim of many event organizers is to change or enhance perceptions of the destination before and after the visit.…”

Measuring Overtourism: A Necessary Tool for Landscape Planning

“…Residents Stakeholders * Alaçatı [26], China [36], Budapest [37] Isle of Man [25], Barcelona [18,39,41], Alaçatı [26], 13 cities [2], Besalú [33], Budapest [37], Australia [42] London [43], Antaya [29], Isle of Man [25], Australia [42], Alaçatı [26], Munich [17], 13 cities [2], Africa [27], Besalú [33], Budapest [37], Bled [30], Kraków [28] ISSUES Perceptions Attitudes Opinion…”

“…Antaya [29], Isle of Man [25], Australia [42], Alaçatı [26], Munich [17], 13 cities [2], Africa [27], London [43], Barcelona [18,39,41], Besalú [33], Budapest [37], Bled [30], Kraków [28] Antaya [29], Isle of Man [25], Australia [42], Alaçatı [26], London [43], Barcelona [39,41] Isle of Man [25], Australia [42], Alaçatı [26], 13 cities [2], Africa [27], London [43], Barcelona [39,41], Kraków [28] METHODOLOGICAL ELEMENTS Individual Isle of Man [25], Australia [42], Alaçatı [26], Munich [17], China [36], Africa [27], London [43], Barcelona [18,41], Besalú [33], Budapest [37], Bled [30], Kraków [28] Descriptive Antaya [29], Alaçatı [26], Munich [17], 13 cities [2], Afri...…”

“…Although many of the interviews analysed include questions about perceptions, attitudes, and opinions [25,26,39,[41][42][43], they are often used primarily to ascertain views about management policies that are being undertaken or may be implemented [25,27,28,44]. Very few interviews include explicit questions about the existence and/or dimension of overtourism in the territory (Akbulut and Ekin [29], from the NGO perspective; Liu and Ma [36], from the tourist perspective).…”