Fotbollsallsvenska matcher, ortens tid i rampljuset : Sportevenemangets funktion inom turism- och destinationsutveckling

Sammanfattning: In this study, the authors researched how destinations are affected by sport events such as Swedish premier division soccer matches from a tourism perspective. Representatives from Norrköping, Halmstad, Falkenberg, Åtvidaberg and Kalmar shared information through interviews which along with previous research and theories contributed to the results of this study. The authors have used three theories in this research, Leiper’s tourist attraction system, stakeholder’s theory and the schema theory. Five of the interviews that was conducted for this research was performed at the respondent's workplace while the remaining two were conducted by telephone. All the interviews were recorded and transcribed. Among other things, it has emerged that sport events like Swedish premier division soccer games can be seen as a tourist attraction. It has also emerged that there are two groups of effects that this kind of attraction can generate. One of those is the marketing effect which includes the destination's Swedish premier division soccer team and its matches helps to put the destination on the map, but also to create a positive image of the destination. The second effect is about consumption associated with sport events such as Swedish premier division games, including traveling soccer fans that generate benefits for the local community and therefore contribute to its economic development. With the support of previous research and theories, it has emerged that effort to increase marketing impact, for example, visibility, service and create reasons to travel can generate an increased consumption. The marketing effects can influence current and potential visitor's view of the destination, which is considered to be able to change the stakeholders' behavior. Finally, there are signs that it is very important that there is good cooperation between local actors to boost the various effects that sport events such as Swedish premier division soccer matches can generate.