Effects of Sports Tourism on Leisure Satisfaction in College Students

Abstract

Leisure, sports, and tourism have been significant economic drivers around the world. Understanding the leisure satisfaction of college students who participate in sports tourism can provide a different perspective on the field. This study examined the effects of demographic characteristics, pre-event research of sports tourism destinations, and visiting of local attractions on the leisure satisfaction subscales in the psychological, educational, social, relaxation, physiological, and aesthetic categories. The results revealed that female students who participated in sports tourism had a significantly higher level of leisure satisfaction than males on the LSS educational and aesthetic subscales. Those who did research on sports tourism before attending a sports tourism event had a significantly higher level of leisure satisfaction on all subscales except for the physiological category. Lastly, those who experienced additional attractions and amenities had a significantly higher level of leisure satisfaction on the educational, social, relaxation, and aesthetic satisfaction compared with those who did not. Sports commissions and promoters need to make sure online information on additional amenities besides the sporting event can be easily found. The findings of this study should be considered by practitioners to promote of the aesthetic, social, educational, and relaxing aspects of the sports tourism locations.