A Comparative Method of Analysing Small Scale Sport Tourism Events: Half Marathons

While significant efforts have been made to define the conceptual boundaries of sport tourism, less attention has been paid to designing a method of studying sport tourism events comparatively. As such, the comparative method introduced in this chapter by the International Research Network on Sport Tourism (IRNIST) helps scholars and practitioners evaluate the tripartite (e.g., economic, environmental, and social) impacts of these events on the local community. In comparing a like event across nine countries and three continents within the same year, the method and corresponding findings elucidate a more empirical way to understand similarities and differences across space, as well as to propose best practices relative to future planning and implementation. The proposed approach, while requiring further refinement, enables researchers to recognize trends and patterns of small scale sport tourism events. This comparative method also has the potential to bridge the historical divide between scholars and practitioners, encouraging applied research while building a collaborative relationship in support of economic and ethical sustainability.