The contribution of sport events to the development of Greek tourist destinations
International research project examines the socio-economic impact of the Epidavros Triathlon
The Epidavros Triathlon is a two-day regional sports event taking place in Ancient Epi-daurus in Greece. The main race of the event is the endurance category, an extreme triathlon with 2k sea swimming, 95k biking on the surrounding mountains and 21k trail running. In September 2018 almost 400 athletes from Greece and abroad took part, a lot of them bringing with them their families and children.
In the course of an innovative international partnership the event organizer whynot – more than events, Heilbronn University/GER (Prof. Sebastian Kaiser-Jovy) as well University of Novi Sad, Department of Geography, Tourism and Hotel Management, Faculty of Science/SRB (Prof. Miroslav Vujicic) met for an applied research project, supported by the Municipality of Epidaurus and the Peloponnese Region. The research team led by Prof. Sebastian Kaiser-Jovy (Heilbronn University/GER) conducted a survey with the athletes as well as the people accompanying them asking them about their perception of the location and the event as well as their travel and consumer behaviour.
According to the research, the Epidavros Triathlon generated a direct turnover of ap-prox. 150,000 EUR on the race weekend, and this is only the so called “primary impulse”, excluding multiplier effects (future investments) as well as all indirect/long-term and marketing effects. Not least, it attracted almost 1,000 people (athletes and visitors) to Epidaurus who wouldn’t have come without the event. This led to a full use of hotel capacities and thus also raised interest in the region’s various cultural and historic sights.
Prof. Kaiser-Jovy: "The findings suggest that a medium-size regional sport event can not only be a significant economic stimulus of which the local community may benefit directly and indirectly in various ways. Being appropriately integrated into the destination-marketing strategy and given the support and the involvement of the local community and the various stakeholders, it can also significantly contribute to prosperity and sustainable development of a touristic destination“.
The research project is part of a long-term and vital collaboration between the munici-pality of Epidaurus and the Faculty of Business Administration and Engineering of Heilbronn University/ GER (Prof. Kaiser-Jovy) on the socio-economic and tourism im-pacts of sports and culture events, seeking to examine alternative modes of sustainable touristic, economic and cultural development for Epidaurus and the wider Argolis region. This includes seeking new ways to expand its touristic period by developing unique sports activities around its well-known historic monuments.
Wissenschaftlicher Ansprechpartner:
Contact: Prof. Dr. Sebastian Kaiser-Jovy, Business Administration and Culture, Leisure, Sports Management, Daimlerstr. 35, 74653 Künzelsau. Telefon: +49 7940 1306-245. E-Mail: sebastian.kaiser-jovy@hs-heilbronn.de, Internet: www.hs-heilbronn.de/sebastian.kaiser
Press contact: Stefanie König, Hochschulmarketing, Daimlerstr. 35, 74653 Künzelsau, Telefon: 07940-1306-182, E-Mail: stefanie.koenig@hs-heilbronn.de, Internet: www.hs-heilbronn.de/tw