How do event zones influence visitor behaviour and engagement with host destinations? : A longitudinal study of the Cambridge half marathon (2017–2020)
Author
Duignan, Michael
Zho, Sharon
Park, Jeongeun
Everett, Sally
Walsh, Lewis
Page, Stephen J.
Fyall, A
Hansen, Marcus
Attention
2299/26989
Abstract
This work identifies important influencing factors that affect event visitor behaviour in and beyond event zones, utilising a four-year, mixed-method, longitudinal study (n=6212) of the Cambridge Half Marathon (2017–2020). We counter a commonly held view that visitors naturally spill out into local cultural and business precincts, arguing that event zones represent cities within cities that spatially segregate visitors from the host destination; only 7% of the sample engaged in longer and deeper cultural stays. Quantitative data reveals statistically significant demographic and tripographic factors that increase the likelihood of visitors venturing beyond the event zone, whilst qualitative data reveals the behavioural and organisational factors that encourage or discourage engagement. Managerial tactics and strategies for encouraging visitors to venture beyond event zones, across host destinations, to optimise local economic benefits across the host destination are presented.