Networking within the Tourism Industry

Table of Content

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. PROBLEM DEFINITION

1.2. KEY OBJECTIVES

1.3. STRUCTURE OF THIS WORK

2. LITERATURE REVIEW

2.1. IMPACTS OF MEGA SPORT EVENTS ON TOURISM

2.1.1. Economic Impacts of Mega Sport Events

2.1.2. Socio-Cultural Impacts of Mega Sport Events

2.1.3. Ecological Impacts of Mega Sport Events

2.1.4. Political Impacts of Mega Sport Events

2.1.5. Impacts of Mega Sport Events on Cooperation and Networking

2.2. COOPERATION AND NETWORKING IN THEORY

2.2.1. Definition of Cooperation

2.2.2. Definition of networks

2.2.3. Cooperation Theories

2.2.3.1. The Transaction-Cost-Theory

2.2.3.2. The Principal-Agent-Theory

2.2.3.3. The Game Theory

2.2.3.4. Resource Dependence Approach

2.2.3.5. Combinations

3. METHODOLOGY

3.1. QUALITATIVE RESEARCH

3.2. QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH

3.3. RESEARCH DESIGN

3.3.1. Explorative Research

3.3.2. Descriptive Research

3.3.3. Causal Research

3.3.4. The Research Design applied in this thesis

3.4. RESEARCH TECHNIQUES

3.4.1. Focus Groups

3.4.2. Unstructured or semi-structured observation

3.4.3. Depth Interviews

3.4.4. The Research Technique applied in this thesis

3.5. MAIL VS. PHONE VS. PERSONAL VS. WEB

3.6. QUESTIONNAIRE DESIGN

3.6.1. Target Respondents

3.6.2. Typology of the Questionnaire

3.6.3. Questionnaire Sections

3.6.4. Question Formulation

3.7. THE INTERVIEWEES

3.8. REALIZATION OF THE INTERVIEWS

4. PRIMARY RESEARCH RESULTS

4.1. QUESTION 1

4.2. QUESTION 2

4.3. QUESTION 3

4.4. QUESTION 4

4.5. QUESTION 5

4.6. QUESTION 6

4.7. QUESTION 7

4.8. QUESTION 8

4.9. QUESTION 9

4.10. QUESTION 10

5. DISCUSSION

5.1. IMPLICATIONS OF THE LITERATURE REVIEW

5.2. INTERPRETATION OF PRIMARY RESEARCH

5.2.1. General Situation in the regional tourism industry

5.2.2. General influence of the MSE on cooperation and networking

5.2.3. Specific influence of the MSE on main characteristics of cooperation

5.2.4. Efficiency of the use of the MSEs potential

5.2.5. Ideas to improve this efficiency

5.2.6. Importance of Cooperation and Networking

5.3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH

Objectives & Core Themes

This thesis investigates the impact of Mega Sport Events (MSEs) on cooperation and networking within the regional tourism industry. The core research question addresses whether and how hosting such massive events influences structural and organizational cooperation patterns among local tourism stakeholders.

• Impact analysis of Mega Sport Events on host city tourism structures.
• Theoretical examination of cooperation via Axelrod's Game Theory.
• Empirical research through expert interviews with international industry professionals.
• Evaluation of networking efficiency and potential legacy effects on regional tourism development.
• Identification of barriers to cooperation imposed by major event organizers like FIFA and IOC.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

1. INTRODUCTION: Outlines the research interest in cooperation within the tourism industry triggered by the 2006 FIFA World Cup and defines the study objectives.

2. LITERATURE REVIEW: Summarizes existing research on economic, socio-cultural, and political impacts of Mega Sport Events and establishes a theoretical framework based on cooperation theories.

3. METHODOLOGY: Details the explorative research design, justifying the use of expert interviews as the primary tool to gather qualitative data from industry professionals.

4. PRIMARY RESEARCH RESULTS: Presents findings from expert interviews conducted with tourism managers involved in various international sporting events, organized by questionnaire topic.

5. DISCUSSION: Interprets the research results in the context of the literature review, provides an evaluation of the efficiency of MSE potential, and offers recommendations for future academic research.

Keywords

Mega Sport Events, Tourism Industry, Cooperation, Networking, Game Theory, Regional Development, Expert Interviews, FIFA World Cup, Olympic Games, Economic Impact, Stakeholder Management, Structural Modernization, Tourism Destination, Axelrod, Knowledge Sharing

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the fundamental focus of this thesis?

The thesis explores the often-neglected relationship between Mega Sport Events and the development of cooperation and networking within the regional tourism industry.

What are the central themes discussed in this work?

Key themes include the economic and structural impacts of sport events, the theoretical basis of cooperation models, and the practical challenges of regional networking during large-scale event preparation.

What is the primary objective of the research?

The main goal is to determine if Mega Sport Events act as catalysts for structural modernization and collaborative networking in host regions, rather than being viewed merely as a financial burden.

Which scientific methodology was utilized?

The study employs an explorative research design, conducting semi-structured expert interviews with five international industry professionals to gain qualitative insights into the research problem.

What topics are covered in the main body?

The work covers a literature review of historical impacts of sport events, a theoretical framework using Game Theory, the design of the research instrument, and an analysis of the interview results.

Which keywords best characterize this work?

Key terms include Mega Sport Events, tourism networking, cooperation, regional development, and Game Theory applications.

Why was Axelrod’s Game Theory selected as the conceptual background?

It was chosen because it effectively models relationships shaped by both conflict and cooperation, providing a sound theoretical base for understanding how stakeholders interact during the intense pressures of hosting an event.

What specific challenges do host cities face regarding international organizations like the IOC or UEFA?

Respondents highlighted restrictive regulations regarding sponsoring, marketing, and communication that often force local stakeholders to deviate from their established cooperation and support networks.

Did the experts see long-term legacy effects on cooperation?

Opinions varied; while some experts reported a permanent improvement in regional networking, others believed that cooperation efforts were purely project-based and dissolved once the event concluded.