Nancy Hritz, Ph.D.Nancy Hritz, Ph.D.University of North Carolina WilmingtonUniversity of North Carolina Wilmington

William D. RamosWilliam D. RamosIndiana University – BloomingtonIndiana University – Bloomington

SETTRA Spring meeting April 1, 2008SETTRA Spring meeting April 1, 2008

Motivations of Sport Tourists:Motivations of Sport Tourists:A study of Masters Swimmers at a A study of Masters Swimmers at a Short Course Championship EventShort Course Championship Event

Sport tourism motivation intrinsicSport tourism motivation intrinsic Active vs. non active sport tourist Active vs. non active sport tourist

(Gibson, 1988)(Gibson, 1988)

Past involvement in a sport may influence Past involvement in a sport may influence their participation their participation (McGehee et. al., 2003) (McGehee et. al., 2003)

Adult active sport tourist different Adult active sport tourist different than youth than youth (Gill et. al., 1996)(Gill et. al., 1996)

Introduction ~Introduction ~

United States Masters Swimming ~United States Masters Swimming ~

• Adult only swim organizationAdult only swim organization• National Short Course Championships National Short Course Championships

annual eventannual event• Qualify to competeQualify to compete

Need for the study ~Need for the study ~ Understand the motivations to be at the Understand the motivations to be at the

event (compete or to travel?)event (compete or to travel?) Motivations vary across the adult life Motivations vary across the adult life

span span (Elby and Molnar, 1991) (Elby and Molnar, 1991)

Aid event planners in increasing Aid event planners in increasing numbers and destination selectionnumbers and destination selection

Lack of research on the adult sport Lack of research on the adult sport (swim) tourist(swim) tourist

Research questions ~Research questions ~

1)1)What is the profile of the USMS Short What is the profile of the USMS Short Course participant?Course participant?

2)2)What is the relationship between What is the relationship between age, past involvement in swimming age, past involvement in swimming events and travel and competition events and travel and competition motivators?motivators?

Survey development ~Survey development ~

Demographic questionsDemographic questions

Travel Career Ladder: stimulation, escape, Travel Career Ladder: stimulation, escape, novelty novelty (Pearce, 1991)(Pearce, 1991)

Participation motivation questionnaire Participation motivation questionnaire (PMQ): social development, win, fitness (PMQ): social development, win, fitness (Gill, (Gill, et. al., 1983)et. al., 1983)

MethodMethod

• Pilot Pilot

• Paper and pencil survey at the 2006 Paper and pencil survey at the 2006 championships held in Coral Springs, championships held in Coral Springs, FL, May 11-14FL, May 11-14

• Convenience sample Convenience sample

Participant profile:Participant profile:

• 394 usable surveys were returned394 usable surveys were returned

• Ages: 35 to 54Ages: 35 to 54• CaucasianCaucasian• Bachelors degreeBachelors degree• Number of swim meets: 3-6Number of swim meets: 3-6• Swim team experience: high schoolSwim team experience: high school• Residence: 38 different states, Residence: 38 different states,

Bahamas, and international locationsBahamas, and international locations

Travel and Competition motivations ~Travel and Competition motivations ~

Descriptively….Descriptively….• Compete for fitness statements Compete for fitness statements

rated as most important rated as most important

• Followed by compete in order to Followed by compete in order to winwin

• Travel motivation statements Travel motivation statements rated only as only of medium rated only as only of medium importanceimportance

Data analysis ~Data analysis ~

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA)Exploratory factor analysis (EFA)

Principal axis factoring with Varimax Principal axis factoring with Varimax rotationrotation

Five factor solution accounting for Five factor solution accounting for 61.6% of variability:61.6% of variability:

Travel for escape, stimulation, compete Travel for escape, stimulation, compete for social development, fitness, to winfor social development, fitness, to win

Regression models ~Regression models ~

Independent variablesModel 1: DV = Motivation to travel

Adjusted R-Square = .121F = 9.237p = .000a

Model statistics: ß t pNumber of competitions -.109 -.476 .635Years registered with USMS

.001 .250 .803

Competing age group .017 .978 .329Competition for social development

.251 5.095 .000a

Competition to win .136 2.158 .032b

Competition for fitness .146 1.885 .060a Significant at the .001 level b Significant at the .05 level

Regression models ~Regression models ~

Model 2: DV = Motivation to compete

Adjusted R-Square = .140

F = 11.655

p = .000a

Model statistics: ß t p

Number of competitions

.031 1.224 .222

Years registered with USMS

.005 1.493 .136

Competing age group -.013 -1.268 .205

Travel for stimulation .154 4.942 .000a

Travel for escape .071 2.304 .022b

a Significant at the .001 level b Significant at the .05 level

Conclusions ~Conclusions ~

Relationship between the motivations to Relationship between the motivations to compete and to travelcompete and to travel

Greater emphasis on competition Greater emphasis on competition motivationsmotivations

Travel history did not appear to play a Travel history did not appear to play a significant rolesignificant role

Future research ~ Future research ~

Survey non participantsSurvey non participants

Alternative travel motivation approachAlternative travel motivation approach

Other events/sportsOther events/sports

Thank you for your time.Thank you for your time.

Questions?Questions?