Defining sport tourism: a content analysis of an evolving epistemology. Issue 2 (3rd April 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Van Rheenen, Derek; Cernaianu, Sorina; Sobry, Claude
• Is Part Of: Journal of sport tourism. Volume 21:Issue 2(2017)
• Page Start: 75
• Page End: 93
• Publication Date: 2017-04-03
• Subjects: Sport tourism -- content analysis -- epistemology; Sports and tourism -- Periodicals; 306.483
• DOI: 10.1080/14775085.2016.1229212
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1477-5085

Abstract

ABSTRACT: This paper conducts a systematic evaluation of one of the primary journals in the field of sport tourism research since its establishment in 1993. Drawing on extant literature with varying disciplinary approaches, this meta-review traces the development of key concepts and definitions underlying an evolving epistemology connected to sport tourism, as evidenced within the Journal of Sport & Tourism ( JS&T ). It does so by examining research specific to content previously unexplored. The study first conducted a content analysis based upon a keyword search, focusing on phrases in which sport and tourism appeared together. The study reviewed all texts, including articles, book chapters and editorials ( n = 517), for the years 1993–2014. We then constructed a thematic analysis based upon the most common defining elements found within these texts. These extracted definitions were analyzed according to their paradigmatic elements. Based on these findings, this paper suggests the need to further define the epistemological boundaries of sport tourism for the twenty-first century.