Sport tourism and performance in industry in Imo state

Sport tourism and performance in industry in Imo state

Abstract

Imo State was used as a case study in this study to examine sport tourism and the performance of the tourism industry. Three important research objectives were developed in order to accomplish this. This study adopted a survey methodology and used straightforward random sample procedures. The population of Imo State is made up of the personnel of the chosen hotels and tourist attractions. The researcher arbitrarily chose 67 responders for the sample, while 60 were received and 60 were validated. Data collection involved the use of a self-made and validated questionnaire. Frequency tables and mean scores were used to examine the collected and validated surveys. The findings show that sport tourism adds to the overall performance of the tourism business and helps to increase the profitability of the sector. The research results also showed that tourists who travel for sports visit tourist attractions in the cities where they play. According to the study’s findings, Nigeria should have good policies and a framework for the growth of rural and urban tourism, and local and indigenous handicrafts should be promoted among young people, particularly in technical schools, to have more tourist attractions for sports tourists.

Keywords: Sport, Travel, and the Travel Industry.

Chapiter 1

Introduction

1.1 Study Background

In both wealthy and developing nations, tourism has become a crucial policy instrument for local and regional development. Additionally, there is a great deal of opportunity for tourism to impact and alter how various regions utilise their natural and cultural resources. It fosters the expansion of the hospitality sector and offers local communities new opportunities, employment, and economic benefits. A nation’s economic development depends on the tourism industry. Most people travel for a variety of reasons. One of the key factors in developing the tourism sector is sport. Sports tourism is one of the industries that is expanding more quickly as society develops and people’s standards of living rise. Since the ancient Olympic Games, people have traveled to stay in hotels, explore sporting venues, take part in sporting events, and watch sporting events (Higham J, 2010). Customers, other firms, or companies may serve as patrons. A patron may also conduct business or engage in an activity on their behalf. The tourist who patronizes a destination is referred to as a patron in the context of tourism. The amenities, attractions, and marketing of a place have an impact on how many people visit it. The use of tourism centers, destination amenities, and the morale of people who depend on the tourism industry for their livelihood are all impacted by low visitor numbers. In the contemporary world, sports and tourism go hand in hand. Economic development in the sports tourism sector has been a contentious issue over the past 20 years. Tourism refers to travel that is primarily for leisure or recreation as well as for business or to support such travel. Tourists are people who, in accordance with the World Tourism Organization, “travel to and stay in places outside their usual environment for more than twenty-four hours and not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business, and other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited.” Due to the revenue produced by tourist purchases of products and services, taxes imposed on the sector, and employment opportunities in the tourism-related service industries, tourism is a significant area of economic development in a nation. These service sectors include aviation, cruise ships, taxis, lodging, hotels, bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues, as well as other hospitality sector services like spas and resorts. People frequently travel for a variety of purposes, including work, business, recreation, religious activities, and medical care. Another key factor in tourism is sport. Sports tourism is one of the fastest-growing market categories in the tourism business as society develops and people’s standards of living rise. It also progressively becomes one of the most significant components of the more popular healthy lifestyle. By 2020, it is anticipated that there will be 1.6 billion tourist arrivals worldwide (Simon Hudson, 2009). Sports tourism is one of the industries that is expanding more quickly and is a factor in these startling numbers. Sports tourism development has been one of the world’s most contentious issues during the past 20 years. The development of sports tourism had received attention from the International Olympic Committee and global tourist groups. Travel made with the intention of participating in a specific sporting event, such as the Olympic Games, SAARC Games, or a football competition, is known as sports tourism. Who travel more than 80 kilometers or spend the night in order to attend, participate in, or otherwise be involved in a sporting event, as well as visiting tourism centers nearby, according to the Canadian Tourism Commission. Sports tourism is not only one of the more straightforward types of travel, but it is also a cost-effective sector that encourages the growth of both the travel and sporting goods industries. Sports tourism is still in its infancy, but it’s growing and better to raise people’s participation awareness and give the tourism sector a good chance to grow. The market for sports tourism is a crucial component of the framework for its growth. Sports tourism is based on the elements that visitors use to drive their travel decisions and the types of travel experiences that sports tourists look for when visiting a particular location. The paper analyzes the performance of the tourism industry and sport tourism against this background.

1.2 Description Of The Issue

A socio-cultural phenomena, tourism has quietly revolutionized both affluent and underdeveloped countries around the world. As a visible indicator, humanity is starting to change its mindset toward protecting the natural environment, which includes people as well as other living things like plants, animals, stonework, vines, mist, sound, and even man himself (Fred, 2014). Most people travel for a variety of reasons. One of the key factors in boosting the hospitality business is sport. Sports tourism gradually develops into one of the industries with the fastest growth rates as society develops and people’s living standards rise (Tsiotsu and Ratten, 2010).

1.3 Study’s Objectives

In general, this study looks at the performance of the tourism sector and sport tourism.

1. Determine whether sport tourism increases the tourism sector’s profitability.

2. Determine whether sport tourism improves the overall health of the travel and tourist sector.

3. Ascertain whether tourists who come for sports visit tourism attractions in their sport destination.

4. Determine the elements that influence sport tourists’ use of Imo State’s tourism facilities.

Research Issue

The following inquiries will serve as a guide for the study.

Does sport tourism increase the tourism sector’s profitability?

Does sport tourism impact the success of the tourism sector as a whole?

Does the average sports traveler visit tourist attractions in their sport destination?

What elements influence sport tourists’ use of Imo State’s tourism facilities?

1.5 Importance Of The Research

The purpose of this study is to examine how sports tourism has helped Nigeria’s economy grow by attracting tourists. It is intended to be of interest to decision-makers in the public and private sectors of the hospitality industry, as well as to businesses that would find the study to be of great value as a guide in structuring the industry to make it a contributor to the growth of the national economy by putting all the necessary infrastructure in place to increase efficiency and the level of their contributions. Students and academics interested in conducting additional research on the topic would greatly benefit from this study.

1.6 Study’s Purpose

The study focuses on the performance of the tourism industry and sport tourism. The study will further explore whether sport tourism increases the profitability of the tourism industry, ascertain whether sport tourism improves the overall performance of the tourism industry, ascertain whether sport tourists support tourist centers in their sporting destination, and identify the variables influencing sport tourist support of tourism centers in Imo State. Three chosen tourism destinations and two hotels in Imo State will provide the study’s respondents.

1.7 Study Restrictions

The researcher encountered some obstacles while conducting this study, including time restrictions, budget limitations, language hurdles, and respondents’ attitudes. To assure the success of this investigation, the researcher was able to overcome these obstacles.

1.8 Operational Term Definition

Tourism is described as the entire activity of a person(s) traveling to and staying in a place(s) other than their usual environment for no longer than one year in a row for leisure, business, and other purposes unrelated to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited (UNWTO, 2010).

Traveling while either watching or taking part in a sporting event while away from the tourists’ regular surroundings is referred to as sports tourism.