Sport event tourism is internationally recognized as a substantial and highly desirable niche mar... more Sport event tourism is internationally recognized as a substantial and highly desirable niche market. Many destinations throughout the world have developed sport events portfolios as a strategic initiative to attract tourists and to reinforce their brand. Hosting sport events has been a focus of destination marketers as a strategy to enhance its destination image and differentiate its tourism products. Communities are attracted to hosting sport events to draw marketing benefits that will contribute to the success of the destination in the long run by creating awareness, improving their image with visitors and attracting tourism business to generate future inbound travel. The aim of this paper is to analyse the effects of a major sports event on the tourist development (in terms of image, tourist attractiveness, urban renewal, quality of life, etc.) of the host destination. The research methodology is based on a multi- cases study analysis (Yin 2002) concerning major sport initiatives in a number of host places in Colombo, Galle, and Hambantota in Sri Lanka. Analytical categories to explore the implications of major sports events on host economy development were mainly extrapolated from tourism destination management bibliographical resources (Chalip 2006, Higham 2005, Whitson Macintosh 1996). Although destination management focus on planning strategies of tourism destinations, indicators discussed with this literature are useful to verify the long term efficacy and efficiency of government policies regarding the staging of a major sports event and therefore to make an evaluation of the host economy qualitative development. Findings suggest that major sports events can have different implications for tourism destinations: from fostering economic and social urban regeneration, to putting a city on a worldwide tourist map, or even changing the unequal participation of a country in a global economy.
KeyWords : Major Sports Event, Destination Branding, Sport Tourism, Urban renewal
The zoological gardens founded from the 19th century onwards, claimed not only to educate and ent... more The zoological gardens founded from the 19th century onwards, claimed not only to educate and entertain their audiences, but also to serve science by providing exotic animals. Confronted with increasing financial difficulties, zoos were forced to make money. As a result of recreational experiences came among their top priorities as a money making organ. This case study at Dehiwala Zoological Garden was attempted to examine visitor’s perceptions and satisfaction towards recreational facilities and experiences they obtained. Simple random sampling method was associated and selected 50 visitors as the sample of this study. Observations, Questionnaires and Discussions were employed in the process of data collection. Associating SPSS 19.0 software and based on univariate analysis technique the data were analyzed. 36% visitors stated that the main reason for their visit was, to go out somewhere with their family, relatives or friends, followed by entertainment (27%). In relation to the distance they travelled to visit zoo, 32.6% travelled 10.1 – 20 km and 25.4% traveled 20.1 – 50km, respectively. Regarding the frequency which they visit the site, 65.8% visit at least once a year. The time of year they consider to be the best for a visit is school vacations or festival seasonal times. In relation to the infrastructure facilities available at the zoo (canteen, benches, toilets), 73.3% of visitors consider it to be good. Regarding the abundance of animals at the zoo, 55.6% of visitors believe it is low. It can be concluded that, perceptions of visitors were high level towards recreational facilities and experiences they obtained and quite a substantial number of visitors were satisfied with recreational facilities and experiences they obtained.
Sport event tourism is internationally recognized as a substantial and highly desirable niche mar... more Sport event tourism is internationally recognized as a substantial and highly desirable niche market. Many destinations throughout the world have developed sport events portfolios as a strategic initiative to attract tourists and to reinforce their brand. Hosting sport events has been a focus of destination marketers as a strategy to enhance its destination image and differentiate its tourism products. Communities are attracted to hosting sport events to draw marketing benefits that will contribute to the success of the destination in the long run by creating awareness, improving their image with visitors and attracting tourism business to generate future inbound travel. The aim of this paper is to analyse the effects of a major sports event on the tourist development (in terms of image, tourist attractiveness, urban renewal, quality of life, etc.) of the host destination. The research methodology is based on a multi- cases study analysis (Yin 2002) concerning major sport initiatives in a number of host places in Colombo, Galle, and Hambantota in Sri Lanka. Analytical categories to explore the implications of major sports events on host economy development were mainly extrapolated from tourism destination management bibliographical resources (Chalip 2006, Higham 2005, Whitson Macintosh 1996). Although destination management focus on planning strategies of tourism destinations, indicators discussed with this literature are useful to verify the long term efficacy and efficiency of government policies regarding the staging of a major sports event and therefore to make an evaluation of the host economy qualitative development. Findings suggest that major sports events can have different implications for tourism destinations: from fostering economic and social urban regeneration, to putting a city on a worldwide tourist map, or even changing the unequal participation of a country in a global economy.
KeyWords : Major Sports Event, Destination Branding, Sport Tourism, Urban renewal
The zoological gardens founded from the 19th century onwards, claimed not only to educate and ent... more The zoological gardens founded from the 19th century onwards, claimed not only to educate and entertain their audiences, but also to serve science by providing exotic animals. Confronted with increasing financial difficulties, zoos were forced to make money. As a result of recreational experiences came among their top priorities as a money making organ. This case study at Dehiwala Zoological Garden was attempted to examine visitor’s perceptions and satisfaction towards recreational facilities and experiences they obtained. Simple random sampling method was associated and selected 50 visitors as the sample of this study. Observations, Questionnaires and Discussions were employed in the process of data collection. Associating SPSS 19.0 software and based on univariate analysis technique the data were analyzed. 36% visitors stated that the main reason for their visit was, to go out somewhere with their family, relatives or friends, followed by entertainment (27%). In relation to the distance they travelled to visit zoo, 32.6% travelled 10.1 – 20 km and 25.4% traveled 20.1 – 50km, respectively. Regarding the frequency which they visit the site, 65.8% visit at least once a year. The time of year they consider to be the best for a visit is school vacations or festival seasonal times. In relation to the infrastructure facilities available at the zoo (canteen, benches, toilets), 73.3% of visitors consider it to be good. Regarding the abundance of animals at the zoo, 55.6% of visitors believe it is low. It can be concluded that, perceptions of visitors were high level towards recreational facilities and experiences they obtained and quite a substantial number of visitors were satisfied with recreational facilities and experiences they obtained.
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Papers by Ishara Asiri
KeyWords : Major Sports Event, Destination Branding, Sport Tourism, Urban renewal
Key Words: Visitor Satisfaction, Zoo, Perception
Thesis Chapters by Ishara Asiri
KeyWords : Major Sports Event, Destination Branding, Sport Tourism, Urban renewal
Key Words: Visitor Satisfaction, Zoo, Perception