2018-04-24T08:43:53Z

2018-04-24

Default License

masterThesis

Sport Tourism

Sports and tourist trade

free

School of Economics, Business Administration and Legal Studies, MSc in Hospitality and Tourism Management

Greece is selected as a popular destination from a vast number of tourists. According to Alexandris (Alexandris, 2018) , in 2015 there were 23.6 million tourists reported, who contributed to the Greek economy with 14 billion euros approximately. This number grew up to 24.8 million in 2016 with a prediction pointing even higher in year 2017 . As time passes by, the tourists’ profile and desires change. Since 1980 , there has been a remarkable change in tourists’ choices regarding their vacations, since they don’t choose anymore to spend their holidays all day lying on sunbeds. They prefer to combine their stay with other activities like sport and tours to natural or historic areas , or with other forms of tourism like gastronomic and religious. There are two main reasons for that change: first, the fact that environmental conscience is considered a matter of significant importance and second, the working hours are less so there is more time for vacations. These facts illustrate the reason why sport tourism is a constantly evolving market. Greece is a country with limitless coastline and a vast number of islands (1200-6000) depending on the definition (Marker, 2010) . During the summer there are meltemia , which set the perfect conditions for water sports regarding air but the temperature as well. The weather, the location , the elements like gastronomy, culture, history and the services offered set Greece as an ideal destination for sea sport tourism. Keeping that in mind, it is crucial for Greece to keep up with the competition in order to gain its part in the industry. A requirement for this evolution of Greece is the identification of reality, challenges and potentials there are in the sea sport tourism. This study’s scope isn’t to point out and provide the solutions for the involved parties. Its scope is to respond to the need for capturing the present circumstances and provide information , findings and some suggestions to everyone interested in the market. This dissertation consists of 10 chapters , each of equal importance in order to add to existing literature in the wider field of sports management, with a focus on the maritime element, whereby literature is scarce. Especially what regards our country, studies are almost non existable and there is lack of information and therefore theoretical framework in order to draw conclusions as to the potential of sea sport tourism in future. In the second chapter definitions of tourism are provided , sport tourism and a review of the existing literature on this subject . The third chapter refers to the economic, social and environmental impacts of sport tourism. International sport tourism and events are included in chapter four. The attempt to record the situation of sport tourism in Greece, the analysis of sea sport tourism and the Greek touristic product are reported in the fifth chapter. In the sixth chapter the methodology of the study is analyzed . The method used is qualitative, regarding both primary and secondary data 4 collection, through the use of in - depth semi - structured interviews, along with the use of a single case study analysis for the purpose of the current study and findings from the literature review that remains scarce in the current field. In the seventh chapter , data analysis is conducted and findings are reported . Following that, in the eighth chapter findings are analyzed and interpreted with regard to existing literature . The theoretical and managerial implications are reported in the ninth chapter . In the tenth chapter the study’s limitations are mentioned, which occurred during the conduction of the current study and some future research directions are highlighted . The final conclusions of this study are in the last chapter, conclusions. The findings of the conducted study were more or less expected , since they demonstrated how challenging it is for entrepreneurs to operate their businesses in a successful way in the particular sector . This was perhaps expected also due to the fact that this emerging field in the wider tourism industry remains unknown to the majority of tourists, especially in Greece and has only recently started being developed and becoming a trend. All of the respondents pointed out the huge obstacle of legislation, which makes their operation filled with stress and frustration. Defining legislation as the most important obstacle for the existence and future of the sea sport tourism, the focus of the study drew on ways that could perhaps aid to overcome it. To summarize, the present situation of sea sport tourism is captured in this thesis. Moreover, an approach to offer suggestions and ideas for the future is provided and discussed in the last chapter.

Kyrgidou, Lida

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