Sport Tourism

This book offers a timely and illuminating exploration of the powerful nexus between sport, travel, and human experience. Drawing from key research published in Tourism Recreation Research, it weaves together diverse perspectives on how individuals engage with sport tourism-from personal motivations to global development impacts. Through its thoughtfully structured approach, Part I of the volume examines the behavior and psychology of sport tourists, uncovering what drives adventure seekers, how women navigate participation in snow sports, and the ways eco-conscious behaviors emerge from sporting experiences. It addresses critical questions of accessibility, representation, and decision-making factors that influence participation across different demographics, while also highlighting issues of legitimacy and corporate social responsibility in winter sports tourism. The narrative then seamlessly transitions to the developmental aspects of sport tourism in Part II, revealing how destinations strategically plan, market, and manage sporting events. From sustainable approaches to mega-events to the evolution of emerging sports in developing economies, the book presents a comprehensive view of how places transform through sport tourism initiatives. Blending scholarly insight with practical application, this accessible volume serves as an essential resource for students, tourism professionals, and anyone fascinated by how sport tourism simultaneously drives personal transformation, fosters social connection, and catalyzes regional development in our increasingly interconnected world. The chapters in this book were originally published in Tourism Recreation Research.

Tzung-Cheng (TC) Huan is Professor at National Chiayi University and Former President of Tainan University of Technology, Taiwan. Yangyang Jiang is Professor at the Department of Entrepreneurship, Marketing and Management Systems, University of Nottingham, Ningbo, China. Anestis K. Fotiadis is Full Professor at the Department of Management, College of Business, Zayed University, Abu Dhabi, UAE.

Introduction 1. How does adventure sport tourism enhance well-being? A conceptual model 2. Empirical testing of destination attribute preferences of women snow-sport tourists along a trajectory of participation 3. How sport tourism experience influences daily pro-environmental behaviour: the role of eco-friendly reputation and personal norm 4. Analysing the effect of membership and perceived trust on sport events electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) intention 5. Travelling to compete: antecedents of individuals' involvement in small-scale sports events 6. Perception of legitimacy and corporate social responsibility of winter sports tourism leisure providers 7. The impact of 'green flags' and 'red flags' on the decision-making process of sports tourists 8. From Innovation to New Sport Development: A Slippery Slope? 9. A Sport Mega-Event as a Sustainable Tourism Development Strategy 10. Sport tourism and destination attractiveness: bridging gaps in research for emerging economies 11. Sports Stadia and Arena: Realising Their Full Potential