Exploring sustainable tourism through winter sports events: An analysis of local agri-food systems

Sporting events can positively impact sustainable development of local socioeconomic systems. This study examined the role of sports events in enhancing sustainability, with a particular focus on the agri-food sector. An exploratory survey was conducted in Austria, Italy and Slovenia (1,511 respondents), and a choice experiment was used to analyse potential tourists’ preferences for vacations in places where winter sports events are held (e.g., the European Winter Youth Olympic Festival). Respondents pointed out the importance of an accommodation being environmentally sustainable. From our findings, heterogeneity in respondents’ preferences emerged, and opportunities to strengthen local food systems were identified. These results can be a starting point for the creation of appropriate tourism offers for the benefit of tourism operators and local stakeholders in agri-food systems.