The support of local residents' orientation towards sports events and the effects of sports tourism on society

In recent years, experts have pointed out that sports tourism or tourism related to sports has significantly developed worldwide. Studies on sports tourism have revealed the existence of various markets in this field. Therefore, this research aims to measure the perception levels of local residents (aged 18-33, n=1140) residing in the cities of Eskişehir, Ankara, and İzmir regarding the effects of sports tourism and the impact of societal support on their inclination towards sports. The study also seeks to examine the relationship between the impact of sports tourism on society and societal support in terms of the local residents' inclination towards sports. The data collection tools used in the study include the "Personal Information Form" containing demographic information of the researchers, the "Perception and Support Scale of Local Residents Regarding the Impact of Sports Tourism," adapted into Turkish by Erkan and Koçak (2023), and the "Orientation Scale Towards Sports Activities," adapted into Turkish by Çevik et al. (2018). The research data was collected through face-to-face interviews using convenience sampling and analyzed using the SPSS program. Descriptive statistics were used to determine the participants' demographic characteristics. Correlation analysis was employed to examine the relationship between the perception and support of local residents and their inclination towards sports, while regression analysis was used to determine the impact. The findings of the study indicate that the effects of sports tourism positively increase women's level of inclination towards sports. Additionally, a significant relationship was observed iv between the perception and support of local residents and their inclination towards sports. In conclusion, it is evident that sports tourism has significant effects on individuals' inclination towards sports. Based on these effects, it is important for local governments and major sports organizers to plan their events without disregarding these effects, as it can lead to positive impacts on both the destination where the event takes place and the local residents.