An Empirical Assessment of Sport Tourism-Potentials, Barriers and Prospects: The Case of North Cyprus

This study aims to investigate and explore the present processes, potentials, barriers and organizations of sport tourism in Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in order to provide a clear policy guideline to the tourism operators and practitioners as well as to the decision makers. Furthermore, this study aims to achieve exploring the deficiencies that might have hampered the development and planning for sport tourism. Sport Tourism is one of the popular forms of Tourism Industry that motivate so many tourists to go to a destination. Sport Tourism in its Hard or soft categories are able to attract millions of tourists from hundreds of different countries to travel and participate in sporting events. This form of tourism has the potential to have positive impact economically and socially. However, sport tourism requires infrastructural consideration and certain technological preparation with specific land use issues. This study assumes that potentials to establish this form of tourism exists; however, the infrastructure for and commitment to this highly suitable tourism is not in place. An examination of planning process of sport tourism with respect to scale, scope, resource protection, product development and institutional responsibilities will be other aims. A qualitative data analysis will be performed to collect data and result for this paper. This study will be also a pathway to provide guidelines how to market and locate sponsors for sport tourism as an entrepreneurial initiative. Keywords: Niche tourism, Sport tourism, Tourism planning, North Cyprus