Event attributes and their impact on sport tourism destinations in peninsular Malaysia

Abstract

The development of sport tourism destinations in Peninsular Malaysia is constrained by limited understanding of how event promotion, event quality, and event attachment influence tourists’ perceptions and destination attractiveness. Clarifying the effects of these key event attributes is essential to assist stakeholders in designing meaningful sporting events that enhance tourist experiences, strengthen destination loyalty, and improve the competitiveness of sport tourism destinations. This study examines the influence of event attributes specifically event promotion, event quality, and event attachment on sport tourism destinations in Peninsular Malaysia. The research focuses on sport tourists attending sporting events in the region and employs a non-probability purposive sampling technique. A total of 150 questionnaires were distributed, of which 131 usable responses were returned. The findings indicate that event promotion, event quality, and event attachment each have a significant positive influence on sport tourism destination outcomes. Well-organised sporting events enhance tourist experiences, strengthen destination reputation, and encourage repeat visitation, thereby acting as important catalysts for tourism development. Accordingly, the study’s hypotheses are supported. However, the findings are limited to specific events and are based on a cross-sectional research design.