The Attributes, Consequences, and Values Associated With Event Sport Tourists' Behavior: A Means-End Chain Approach

Author: Chen, Po-Ju

Source: Event Management, Volume 10, Number 1, 2006 , pp. 1-22(22)

Publisher: Cognizant Communication Corporation

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Abstract:

A phenomenological study was conducted to investigate event sport tourists' behavior and experiences. Members of a sport fan club were invited to participate in this study. The laddering technique was used in the interviews for discovering participants' cognitive structures. The findings were presented on Hierarchy Value Maps that depicted relationships between attributes, consequences, and values in a means-end hierarchy. This study found that the study participants were highly involved event sport tourists. Personal balance and socialization were the essential parts of experiences that participants were seeking. Thus, event sport tourists can obtain personally relevant goals (consequences and values) through various means (traveling and socializing) that allow them to watch competitions and participate in related social events. The study findings contribute to the understanding of event sport tourists' behavior and the development of marketing strategies.

Keywords: SMALL-SCALE SPORT TOURISM; EVENT SPORT TOURIST; MEANS-END CHAIN; PERSONAL CONSTRUCT; HIERARCHY VALUE MAP

Document Type: Research article

Publication date: 2006-12-01

More about this publication?

Event Management, an International Journal, intends to meet the research and analytic needs of a rapidly growing profession focused on events. This field has developed in size and impact globally to become a major business with numerous dedicated facilities, and a large-scale generator of tourism. The field encompasses meetings, conventions, festivals, expositions, sport and other special events. Event management is also of considerable importance to government agencies and not-for-profit organizations in a pursuit of a variety of goals, including fund-raising, the fostering of causes, and community development.