Fonte: ROTUR. Revista de Ocio y Turismo; Vol. 14 No. 2 (2020); 88-104
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Resumo: Sports events have a positive impact on socio-economic development and the potential to expand, diversify and promote local area tourism. The consumption of goods and services by sports tourists has a direct and indirect effect on the local economy of the area, but its impact goes further. In Valle del Jerte, in the province of Cáceres, sports event tourism could be one way to offset the problem of seasonality in the sector. The aim of this exploratory study is to examine the perceptions and spending patterns of participants in a series of small-scale sports events held in Valle del Jerte, and the impact of those events on tourism in the area. A total of 82 sportspeople participating in five sporting events held in the area completed a face-to-face survey. The results showed a positive perception by active sports tourists of the impact of these events and very little negative perception. Their spending patterns were also shown to have an effect on tourism development, with accommodation, bars and restaurants benefiting most. The study concluded that organising events of this type in local areas may be a strategy to deseasonalise and diversify local and regional tourism.
