Residents' perceptions of the economic impact of sports tourism. Differences according to the geographical location of the town

Abstract

Sports tourism has become a major tourist draw in recent decades. People are increasingly in favour of hosting such activities, given the many benefits it can bring to the community. The economic impact of such events is known but not the perceptions that residents have about this type of impact. Researchers also highlight the differences that the populations may have according to the geographical area where they are located and their influence on sports tourism activities. Therefore, the aim of the study is to investigate residents' perceptions of the economic impact of sports tourism according to the population of residence, differentiating between rural, urban and coastal populations. A total of 647 residents of Gran Canaria (Spain) completed a survey that analysed the residents' perceptions of the economic impact of sports tourism in the area. The results of this study indicate that residents have a high regard for the impacts associated with sports tourism and that perceptions do not vary greatly, depending on the population of residence of the respondents, as well as age and sex. Institutions responsible for planning and managing the sports tourism sector should pay attention to any relevant information provided, including residents' perceptions, to provide a better service to the sector.