Panagiota Tsekeri, Panagiotis Alexopoulos Int. Jou Eco. Res, 2019, V10 i5, 68 – 81 ISSN:2229-6158

SPORT TOURISM IN GREECE. THE CASE OF DEVELOPMENT IN FOOTBALL TOURNAMENT IN DELPHI

Panagiota Tsekeri (BSc, MSc, PhD student) Panagiotis Alexopoulos Associate Professor, Dean of the Faculty of Human Movement and Quality of Life Sciences in University of Peloponnese Abstract

Sports Tourism as it is known consists of many different types and concepts. Its basic distinction is between mass tourism and alternative tourism. In alternative tourism, there are several categories, one of which is sports tourism, the kind of activity where tourists are motivated by sports or sports events visiting the various areas.

In this work, sports tourism in the Peloponnese region shall be examined and, in particular, how much the Football Tournament will help in the development of this type of tourism. Also, how much Greece will be develop and which categories could be promoted. This study is trying to address two purposes: first, to evaluate the motivating experience factors that leads travellers from different sports origins to different preferences when selecting their travel destination, and second, to assess the respective relevance of the identified factors in the development destination’s in Greece.

The central stage of the investigation consisted in carrying out the interviews by discussing directly with the interviewees, addressing the programmed questions and recording their answers. This represented the main stage of data collection and took place in Greece, in region of Delphi, from July 1 to July 15, 2019. The setting of the research was the Football Tournament in Delphi, a location that coincides with the subject of the present article. Ten participants have been asked to answer the questions of the interview. They were selected among human resources department managers of the sports industry, local people and people involved in sport tourism industry in Greece.

Further analyses were performed to identify the predominant/primary reasons for differentiation in the selection of destination. The findings show educational differences in the memorable experiences and the respective criteria that athletes use while selecting/reselecting a traveling destination. Finally, the study draws conclusions, provides some managerial implications, and suggestions for future work.

Key words: Sport Tourism, Football Tournament, motivating factors, development, Greece

Introduction environment should be tackled by business planning, effective management and Tourism is a complex activity connected to integrated marketing proposals that can many areas of the economy. It requires the lead to increased productivity, increased contribution of economic, social, cultural revenue, and a better relationship with the and environmental data and is therefore society in which it exists and operates, but described as a highly versatile sector. also from which it is maintained. Now, the According to Igoumenakis (2007), the financial status of each league plays a tourist market is “the place where tourist major role, as the ever-increasing business develops its activity in order to commercialization of professional football profitably sell its products”. increases business risk. Greece has one of Europe's poorest and most troubled The new business conditions that emerge football and is a small market. For these make it imperative to redefine each reasons, it must make special efforts to company's role and goals. Football teams adapt it to European standards as much as now function as businesses and therefore possible (Alexopoulos, 2010). have to adapt to the ever-changing business environment. This competitive

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Considering this definition of the concept and training to able to offer services with of ‘tourist market’, four components can high quality. be identified (Igoumenakis N. et al, 1998) In the other hand, the importance of the i. Sellers and purchasers of tourist internet broadcasting rights as a part of the products. European professional football leagues ii. Touristic products traded. overall media rights deals the last 10 years iii. The place of tourist products. has been boosted. Several global titans in iv. The rules governing transactions the area of digital media, social media, between sellers and purchasers of tourist internet providers and tech giants like products. Amazon, Google, Facebook, Microsoft, Alibaba and others, has been increasingly One should note that the components of showing interest, and some of them the tourist market contribute to the size of bidding and acquiring sporting events the tourism market (Igoumenakis, 2007). streaming rights (Alexopoulos et al, 2014). The sport industry in Greece made this According to Alexopoulos (2014), the change with the small steps, the most scope is to enhance the transparency of important reason is the poor economy and Greek Football, develop the sport also the zero opportunity for the according to international standards, to investment by abroad. improve the facilities and enhance revenue distribution. The facilities and the quality Many European countries created a of the services could be developing the competition wise balanced championship economy in Greece. The target sales of the that attracts the interest of major media football tournament in Delphi could be groups, sponsors and investors. Key role in increase the revenue of the area and in this transition phase from a rather lower generally, in Greece level championship to one of the world’s wealthiest football leagues, played the Professional soccer in Greece is designing and application of a modern and administered and sorted out the standards efficient tv rights collective selling authorized by the Ministry of Sport and mechanism, combined with a tv rights Culture. The administrative body for the income distribution system that enhances supervision and recognition for the smooth the competition balance of the running of the Super League is the championship and thus the fans interest, Hellenic Football Federation which always something resulting in high tv rights try to provide the services for the teams auctions bids by media giants (Alexopoulos, 2014). (Alexopoulos et al, 2018).

According to Alexopoulos (2014), during In the other hand the Italian football the period 2009-2012 the Greek football organizational models changed a lot in the clubs seemed to have back misfortunes, 90s and 00s, causing the observers to were not able use their advantages for introduce the phrase “from game to make deal incomes and were exceptionally business” (Lago et al, 2006). Is important utilized with expanded likelihood of in Greece to begin a business opportunity default. In the past ten years the Greek in football industry. The Football Football Clubs they were not able to Tournament could be a huge opportunity develop the facilities and also, the to develop a revenue for the economy such services. This is shows that the human as other countries. resources should be educating

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Football in Italy is a social phenomenon. industry. General dictionaries define Characteristically, in 1998, football methodology as “a body of methods, rules, broadcasting represented 61% of the total and postulates employed by a discipline, a sports broadcasting and 1.967 tv hours particular procedure or set of procedures, were dedicated to football (Deloitte & or the analysis of the principles or Touche (Italy) and Lega Calcio, 1997/98, procedures of inquiry in a particular field” 1999). Based on research, the average (McKercher, 2003). In this chapter, the Italian fan spent double money than the word ‘methodology’ is used in its meaning average fan in England, France, Germany of systematic description, analysis and and Spain to watch on tv them favorite assessment of the particular methods used clubs’ games (Αlexopoulos & Kriemadis, while carrying out the present research 2009). project. For the present research project and its particular purpose, the most The Serie A adventures over the years and suitable research its eventual establishment as one of the approach is the qualitative one, with some world’s wealthiest professional football additional features that belong rather to the leagues, only after the designing and mixed type. This choice has been made by application of a tv rights collective selling considering the central factors that mechanism, accompanied by a tv rights influence such a decision, which are: the income distribution scheme, more research problem itself, the personal enhancing of the championship training and former competition balance, could be a paradigm experiences of the researcher and the to be followed by the Greek Super League. audience(s) for whom the report must be It is also a written (Creswell, 2009: 21). challenge for both the Italian Serie A and the Greek Super League to develop their Accordingly, the main research method sporting product, by reinvesting the so that has been applied in order to collect precious to them tv rights income, in data was the semi-structured interview renovating their clubs stadiums or even based on opened questions, for reasons building new ones, hiring experienced that shall be detailed in the following sport managers, offering various sections. Before opting in favor of this experiences to their fans at their venues, method, its practical advantages building modern training centers and and disadvantages have been carefully investing in acquiring young talents and taken into account, and it was compared moving towards any other action that with other possible similar methods. A would add value to their product. That special attention has been given to way, in mid-term, clubs would gradually questionnaire as a possible alternative become less and less dependent in their tv candidate method, since according to rights income. Alitnay and Paraskevas (2008) the questionnaire in interview is a very Data and Method popular method of data collection for research in the field of hospitality and The following chapter of this research tourism. article will examine an appropriate methodology for the proposed However, there are many reasons for investigation. It focuses on semi-structured which the researcher didn’t use an interviews as the primary method of data extended questionnaire. Firstly, the collection and discussions are analyzed in questionnaire consists in a much greater relation to their application to sports number of questions, which participants tourism don’t have always the necessary time to

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answer. Secondly, a face to face interview session. Focus groups interviews, where is more suitable for the researcher because the interviewer discusses simultaneously the body language expresses more clearly with many participants, involve some the perceptions. Last but not least, it is additional difficulties of a purely practical easier for the researcher to clarify nature, but they are still enough popular questions and to ask for additional (Marshall and Rossman, 2006). answers, in the case of an interview containing a small number of open Some elements of qualitative content questions than in the case of a fixed, analysis applied to text sources were also predetermined questionnaire. used as an auxiliary method to help with reviewing available literature on the Thus, compared to the questionnaire, the subject topics and especially with interview has the advantage to collect elaborating the list of questions for the complete information with greater interview. Berelson (1952: 18) originally understanding. It is more personal, defined content analysis as “a research allowing for a higher response rate. On the technique for the objective, systematic and contrary, data analysis is more difficult in quantitative description of the manifest the case of interviews, especially content of communication”. when qualitative data are very abundant. Also, interviewing can become annoying In sum, the methodology of the present when it involves a large number of research was not based on a single method, participants and there is a higher risk of but rather on a combination of methods bias caused by this fatigue. and instruments required by the complexity of its purpose. They belong all However, interview was not the only to a merely qualitative approach and are method applied during the present research centered around the main study, but it was combined with other method of one-to-one interviewing as data auxiliary methods or suggestions borrowed collection tool, which shall be analyzed in from other research tools. Such detail bellow. complementary methods and procedures that played a substantial role were: a) Research Goals the study of case and b) the content analysis of texts. These too belong to the This literature has been analytically same larger category of inquiry described in the previous sections of the instruments used in qualitative or mixed present research study and its review approaches. suggested many issues to be questioned and many possible working hypotheses to All interviews aim at collecting data and be tested in the particular case of Football information by asking questions. In Tournament in Delphi. practice, this may be obtained by listening One of the main objectives of this research to individuals and taking notes, tape- study was not only to test (i.e. confirm or recording or filming their responses, infirm) theoretical hypotheses suggested asking them to answer in written, or any by the general literature review, but also to combination of the aforementioned means. complete the already existing image of the subject-matter with new topics and to clarify some missing points. The most common type is by far the one- That is why the general bibliography was to-one interview: one interviewer augmented with recent sources, such as interacting with one interviewee during press review files, social media debates one and the same and company’s own reports on its activity.

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Some specific issues related to Football The creation of the research questions led Tournament in Delphi case had very little to the development of four research reflection in the reviewed literature. Such hypotheses that were tested on this study. example was the role played by the The hypotheses included, presence of sport personalities and sport stars in attracting more tourists in local Hypothesis 1.1: The development of the sport tourism events. Other aspects were region of Peloponnese when the athletes not completely missing, but they needed a and coaches selecting a Football major reformulation in order to be Tournament. applicable to the particular case of Hypothesis 1.2: There are significant Football Tournament in Delphi. Issues differences in perception and interpreting related to sustainability, environment and experience among travelers from different long-term impacts, are also very sensible countries. to local conditions. Hypothesis 2.1: The economical and the political changes could be helping the As a general remark, it should be noticed region. that the respondents have preferred to give Hypothesis 2.2: While historically more rather concise answers to the questions intuitive (mostly Eastern) cultures are asked, despite the explicit solicitation on expected to require fewer tangible aspects behalf of the interviewer to give detailed and more cultural and spiritual aspects. answers as much as possible. This may be Hypothesis 3.1: The number of the visitors caused by the lack in Delphi could be change the demand of of time, the relatively poor proficiency in tourism in region of Peloponnese. English language or just a weaker interest Hypothesis 4.1: The sport tourism in supporting the particular research study. develops the economy of the region. Hypothesis 5.1: The impacts of the area Research Questions such as historical places could be change the perspective of the region. There were main research questions for this study. The questions include, Construct of the Interview Questions

Research Question 1: How does Football Usually, the interview involves an Tournament contribute to the region of extendable discussion between two or Peloponnese? more partners that intends to produce `in- Research Question 2: Which are the depth information` about a certain topic or major changes that will happend in the subject. This method is particularly useful region of Peloponnese after Football when it conducted in order to reveal the Tournament story behind an interviewee’s start its business? experiences. That is why one of the main Research Question 3: How many visitors tasks in interviewing is to find the could be within a year? appropriate interpretation for the meaning Research Question 4: How did the of what the respondents say. According to increase of sport tourism improve the Kvale (1996), a qualitative research based region? on interviews shall try to cover both a Research Question 5: Were there any factual level (what negative impacts? If yes, what are the happened?) and a meaning level (what effects? does it mean?). However, it is usually far more difficult to interview on a meaning Research Hypothesis level, involving comprehension and interpretation. All interviews aim at

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collecting data and information by asking When conducting interviews as a research questions. In practice, this method, the researcher should be aware may be obtained by listening to individuals both of their value and of their limitations, and taking notes, tape-recording or filming since the assessment of their findings and their responses, asking them to answer in results critically depends on these aspects. written, or any combination of the Nowadays, interviewing is usually aforementioned means. Therefore, there considered to be an are many different types of interviews. increasingly attractive method of data collection. According to Blaxter, Hughes However, their main scientific typology and Tight (2006: 172), doing interviews is tends to use two essential classifying worthy because the researchers are given criteria: the number of participants and the an opportunity to reveal information that is structure of questions asked. The most “probably not accessible using techniques common type is by far the one-to-one such as questionnaires interview: one interviewer interacting with and observations”. Furthermore, the one interviewee during one and the same authors emphasize that interviewing is not session. Focus groups interviews, where just a data collection tool, but must be the interviewer discusses simultaneously seen rather as a natural way of with many participants, involve some communication that can take place in very additional difficulties of a purely practical different situations. Last but not least, nature, but they are still enough popular interviewing is one of the most (Marshall and Rossman, 2006). economical methods of data collection, since the expenses for individuals “using it There are many different advantages and for research purposes are reduced” disadvantages for each of the above (Neuman, 2007). categories, that need to be carefully balanced when choosing the most In the field of qualitative research, the appropriate type of interview suitable for a researcher plays a crucial role as an certain subject-matter and a particular investigation instrument, by observing, research project. In the present project, taking notes, talking to people and the type of interview used was that of interacting with them and therefore all of semi-structured interview. This type of these personal abilities are extremely interviews combines the elasticity of the important. When carrying out unstructured interviews with the interviews, the researcher must use at least directionality of a steady survey the following special skills that need to be instrument. A detailed interview guide has learned, according to Helfferich (2009), been followed, consisting of ten questions technical competence, interactive addressed in exactly the same form and competence, competencies in order to all interviewees, according to the communication theory and knowing how definition given by Corbetta (2003: 269) to deal with previous knowledge for structured interviews, stating that they and personal bias. are “interviews in which all respondents are asked the same questions with the In addition to the above competencies and same wording and in the same skills, many other personal abilities and sequence”. This common format makes it talents contribute to the ideal profile of a easier to analyze, code and compare data qualified interviewer. The person resulting from the answers given by the conducting interviews should be participants and, therefore, it represents an knowledgeable, structuring, clear and important strength of the chosen type. gentle, steering and critical, remembering

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and interpreting. All these involved personal opinions, values or recommendations have been duly feelings of the interviewee. The fact-based considered and followed as strictly as questions were interspersed throughout the possible during the application of the interview, so that to assure a natural flow method within the present research study. of the discussion and to get the A special attention has been paid to ethical respondents engaged in the interview as issues involved in interviewing people, soon as possible. since dealing with human participants always Ten participants have been asked to requires a high ethical standard to be answer the questions of the interview. observed throughout the entire research They were selected among human project. Some respondents may feel that resources department managers of the the interview represents a disruption into sports organizations itself, local people their private lives either because of the and people involved in sport tourism time allocated or industry in Greece. This sample of because of the level of sensitivity of the interviewed population questions asked. is relatively small, but it has the advantage of knowing very well the object of inquiry, According to Gray (2004: 235), by immediate personal experience. Thus, interviewees “should not be harmed or the sampling technique employed in this damaged in any way by the research”. In study is the non-probability sampling, case that the participants feel which is more common in qualitative uncomfortable or become upset, the entire research (Robson, 2002). interview session must be cancelled or Non-probability sampling does not involve postponed. Respondents must know that random selection, like probability their involvement in the research study is sampling, but relies more on the subjective completely voluntary, that they have no judgement of the researcher. Therefore, it obligations in relation to it, and that they is impossible to calculate how well the may withdraw at any time they wish. available sample is representing a larger population and to Data access and ownership must be kept extrapolate the conclusions through under control. Researchers should take generalization, beyond the limits of the into account who has the right to access sample itself. However, the given sample data or sensitive information and for what meets all the requirements for the so-called purpose. Moreover, they should consider ‘purposive sampling’ or ‘expert sampling’, data collection boundaries when deciding being very similar to a focus group. what kind of After their selection, the researcher data are worth keeping and for how long. contacted the interviewees via e-mail. The same applies when deciding how far Together with the telephone, e-mail was will they push for data and what lengths the main communication tool used during will they go to in trying to gain access to the preparation and scheduling of the the information they want. individual interviews. The standard messages sent to future respondents. They The types of information asked, and the included detailed information such as a order of questions were other two concerns description of the research topic and of the interviewer during the designing of objectives and the set of questions to be the interview guide. Most questions asked answered within the interview. They also for factual information, based on provided contact information of the respondent’s knowledge of the topic, and interviewer and they addressed the terms just a few of them of confidentiality. Usually, each individual

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interview took between 15 and 30 minutes. matter with new topics and to clarify some Nevertheless, the timing was enough missing points. That is why the general flexible and offered all necessary margins bibliography was augmented with recent to allow interviewees to clarify any doubts sources, such as press about the interview. The entire content of review files, social media debates and the discussions was recorded securely company’s own reports on its activity. (password protected) by mobile phone and Some specific issues related to Football the files were subsequently transferred into Tournament case had very little reflection computer via USB for further analysis. in the reviewed literature. Such example was the role played by the presence of When running this stage of living sport personalities and sport stars in interviews, the researcher focused on the attracting more tourists in local sport practical recommendations to be followed tourism events. Other aspects were not in order to assure a successful completely missing, but they needed a communication and a trustful relation major reformulation in order to be between interviewer and interviewees. applicable to the particular case of Football Tournament. Issues related to The questions were asked one by one sustainability, environment and long-term patiently, providing transition between the impacts, are also very sensible to local major topics. The researcher attempted to conditions. remain as neutral as possible and to be relaxed with silences, waiting for the As a general remark, it should be noticed respondent to speak freely. On the other that the respondents have preferred to give hand, the interviewer encouraged rather concise answers to the questions responses and stimulated the interviewees asked, despite the explicit solicitation on to give detailed answers as much as behalf of the interviewer to give detailed possible, showing interest for any answers as much as possible. This may be particular piece of information, but caused by the lack without losing control of the interview. of time, the relatively poor proficiency in Overall, this stage of the investigation English language or just a weaker interest functioned satisfactorily, despite some in supporting the particular research study. practical difficulties caused by the fact that However, for the researcher, this failure is interviews were carried out in a period of a matter of concern which needs more high season for tourism, when there is a attention and some additional efforts in general lack of time affecting all the view of other people directly involved similar investigations that may be carried in organizing these activities. The data out in the future. collection was productive and permitted the researcher to proceed to the next stage, Results and Discussion dealing with the examination and evaluation of its results. The first question requested factual information, based on personal knowledge, Analysis Performed but it also implied an opinion and an evaluation concerning the most One of the main objectives of this research noteworthy positive contributions brought study was not only to test (i.e. confirm or by the tourist operator to the general infirm) theoretical development of the region, in respondent’s hypotheses suggested by the general view. Most answers mention the positive literature review, but also to complete the impact on employment, since the activity already existing image of the subject- of Football Tournament leads to the

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creation of new jobs and additional the local community for his great sources of income for local workers. In contribution to the development fact, a significant percentage of the human of the region. “More months of tourism resources employed are hired from the operation” referred to the fact that the wider region of Peloponnese. A tourism season in Messinia starts now in respondent even specifies that the result February and ends in November. was to reduce the problem of unemployment, which was indeed a very In fact, some of the most popular sport serious problem in Greece during the last events organized by Costa Navarino take years. place in early spring or in late autumn, which are usually not considered to Other respondents also mentioned represent peak seasons for the Greek different economic benefits, such as tourism in other regions. Reducing producing revenues indirectly, through unemployment is mentioned again by one nearby tourist units and other attractions, respondent and another one specified the or developing transportation development of sustainable solutions for infrastructures (roads, airport). Promoting mass events. These answers refer to the the destination internationally and social responsibility policy of Football marketing Tournament, which should probably Greek tourism abroad is also considered to receive more advertising in order to be be an important contribution, since they better known. attract new categories of customers in the region. The third question requested purely factual Only one respondent mentioned information. This was also the only environmental benefits, such as “cleaning question asking for quantitative data. the stadium”, which that the environmental Certainly, the information is based on policy of Football Tournament is probably personal knowledge and the degree of not very well known in the larger area. ‘approximation’ expresses this subjective limit, but not an opinion. A The second question demanded both respondent even recognized that “nobody factual information, based on personal has informed us”, I do not know”. The knowledge and an implicit estimation estimated range of the given answers about the major changes caused by the varies from 3000 to 6000 athletes activity of Football Tournament. Positive annually, but most respondents indicate and negative changes are not specified 5000 visitors. These figures confirm the here separately, so that it fact that playing sports is remained up to the respondent’s choice to one of the most popular sport activities give emphasis to one direction or the organized by local community. Many other. All interviewees mentioned positive foreign tourists are attracted by sports changes. organizations especially for this particular historical opportunity and their number is Most of them referred to the airport of continuously increasing every year. Kalamata and the new highway Tripoli- Kalamata as major improvements on the The fourth question requested factual transportation infrastructure. Indeed, these information and referred explicitly to sport were the most visible changes that affected tourism, not to the tourism operator the entire region, and the fact that the Football Tournament in general. Also, it airport was renamed after the owner of specified explicitly that it referred to Costa Navarino shows the recognition of improvements, i.e. positive changes, and

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not just any kind of changes. Thus, it may Very interesting was the statement of the be last respondent concerning the necessity to seen as a particularization of the previous follow a protocol for sustainability and questions, asking for specific details. That nature protection. This proves that the is why many respondents simply repeated marketing profile of Football Tournament the answers given previously, but they addressed adequately the environmental added particular information concerning sensibility of its customers and the general the type of activities and events involved. public. More jobs and consumption increase are recurrent themes and so is the international Interpretation promotion of the tourist destination, too. But some new aspects of the economic Sport tourism is a modern phenomenon side of sport tourism as a business have with many extensions to economic, been also noticed. Such was the remark cultural, social and environmental level. It concerning the involvement of sponsors. includes travel made for both watching Indeed, organizing this type of events sports events and participating in sports usually attracts many partners. Beside the activities. Its development needs an partnerships with other economic agents, infrastructure consisting in sports facilities, they also benefit from an important transport, services, accommodation, support on behalf of the local entertainment, etc. Greece, the country administration and governmental agencies. where the Olympic Games were born, has The answers to this question confirmed the a great potential for the development of great number of sport events organized in sports activities and the organization of region of Peloponnese and their diversity. sports events. The historical traditions in In fact, their real number is even greater, sport, as well as its geomorphology but respondents must have chosen to (mountains, seaside areas, and islands) mention their favorite sports or just the give a significant advantage to Greece in most popular ones. relation to its competitors. Since 2004, the year of the celebration of modern Olympic Games in Athens, great The last question was conceived as the sport events are organized each year, such contrary of the previous one, explicitly as world and European championships, referring to negative impacts. It was the international competitions and other only question implying some dose of activities, which have the effect of skepticism and leaving some place for advertising the country abroad. possible criticism. However, respondents In addition, many hotels have special have unanimously denied that there was facilities for recreational sports of their any kind of negative impacts caused by the customers (playing basketball, volleyball, operation of Football Tournament in the tennis, golf, water sports, etc.). region. This is rather hard to believe, but it shows the positive image of this touristic Although sports tourism offers many economic unit and its idealized perception advantages, such as economic growth, the among the participants to the interview. creation of new jobs and supplementary revenues, there are significant risks and Most respondents have been very laconic challenges that need to be taken into when answering the question. Only two of account and treated effectively, such as them gave a somehow more elaborated environmental pollution and criminality. answer, wishing to underline the reasons for which they consider that there was no Future developments in the field of sports negative impact, but only positive effects. tourism will depend on many factors such

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as the evolution of global and Greek should include data on: travel expenses economies, the rapid technological involved by sports activities, travel changes etc. It is sure, however, that in the incentives, the degree of satisfaction of coming years sport tourism will be a type tourists, the length of stay, the type of of tourism that will attract the interest of accommodation, and demographic an ever-increasing number of people. information (age, gender, income, Although Greece has many advantages occupation, etc.). that facilitate the development of its sport tourism, here is also plenty of room for Sport tourism enterprises should cooperate improvement. Some suggestions and at a national, regional and prefectural level proposals are given below. Geographical in order to organize, promote and manage areas should be separated in order to sustainable sports events or institutions of identify the particular capabilities of each international importance but also of an prefecture and region of the country and to internal nature. This could help increase determine their specific sport tourism the consumption of Greek sport tourism products. products. A federation of sport tourism operators should be established for the So, a Sport Tourism Map of Greece would purpose of utilizing national resources in be created, useful for every professional relation to sports activities and the and visitor and on the stakeholders will mobilization of all agents that are able to know where to invest and what to promote produce tourist sporting events in each place. Major international sporting contributing to the national economy. events organized in Greece should be New infrastructure and accommodation advertised abroad as facilities should be upgraded and well as on the internet, since it represents modernized in order to improve the now an important information tool. The competitiveness of the tourist system. distribution of special printed guides and Theme parks with educational and the participation in special exhibitions and recreational character should be created, sports tourism conferences are common which students from all over the world practices. Advertising can focus on sports could for which Greece has a historical tradition visit in order to learn sport history and (for example, marathon) or sports for participate in sports activities. The benefits which special natural resources are of participating in sport activities for available (e.g. windsurfing, sailing, health and fitness, and the improvement climbing, etc.). brought in the quality of tourists' lives should be better disseminated, to Extended research should be carried out on stimulate people in tourists before and after sport trips, making more sport and tourism. Relevant because the professionals who provide sport activities and events should also sport tourism services must be aware of include people with disabilities (Sports for the opinions and expectations of their the Disabled) and particular age groups customers, and also of the degree of (children, pensioners, etc.). satisfaction with the provided services / products. Sport tourism professions should be trained (e.g. via seminars) to improve the This will have the effect of making quality of the services provided and to professionals understand what points need assure a more efficient promotion of their improvement and consumers to enjoy products. Education in sports tourism services / products as close as possible to needs to be consolidated and adapted to their own preferences. Such research the developments of the future,

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so that Greece could have qualified people Limitations and executives who can offer the same quality services. Sport events should be Researcher must carefully prepare their coordinated with entertainment to research questions, consider how they will maximize the time spent by tourists and to measure key concepts, select a sample, increase incomes generated by tourism in collect and examine methodically and in the local community. Every tourist must detail the data and communicate the results get positive experiences from the visit to (Parks et al, 2007). ‘What is the our country, which should stimulate a development of Sport Tourism in good psychology, friendliness and Greece in a regional location, considering balanced life. and researching - The case of Football Tournament in Delphi?’ was the central Advice should be provided to the Greek research question for this research. government for an effective exploitation of Interviews take place in Greece, will be the infrastructure of 2004 Olympic Games part of the whole research. The answers of and for the development of further the questions of the interviews will be facilities and new infrastructure. analyze and discuss the results. The main More actions should be dedicated to limitation was the place in region developing the environmental / ecological Peloponnese and also the local awareness of sport tourists in order to community. respect the environment where sports activities take place. Destruction of the Declaration of Conflicting Interests natural environment degrades quality of The author(s) declared no potential human life and has an conflicts of interest with respect to the irreversible impact on flora and fauna of a research, authorship, and/or publication of region. So, the State should put in place this article. legislative framework for the protection of the environment. Funding

Finally, it should be mentioned that Greece The author(s) received no financial support is a quality tourist destination which for the research and/or authorship of this satisfies the sport tourism visitors, offering article. a variety of sporting events and activities with high standards of sports facilities, while ensuring the sustainable improvement of the living conditions in the local areas. Sport tourism is an important tool which, if used properly, can generate major economic benefits, offer new jobs and career opportunities for local people, and even contribute to country’s higher level of culture and civilization.

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References Berelson, B.L. (1952). Content analysis in communications research. New York: Free Αlexopoulos, P., Kriemadis, Α. (2009). press. “Strategic management and professional football”, Athens: Sideris Publications; Blaxter, L., Hughes, C. & Tight, M. (2006). How to Research. New York: Alexopoulos P., Koutroumanides C., McGraw-Hill Education. Laios A. (2018) “The French Ligue 1 TV Rights Selling Model – Historical Study” Corbetta, P. (2003). Social Research Gymnasium - Scientific Journal of Theory, Methods and Techniques. Education, Sports, and Health ISSUE 1, London: SAGE Publications. supplement, VOL. XIX / 2018 Creswell, John W. (2009). Research Alexopoulos, P. , Koutroumanides, C., Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Laios, A., Douvis, J. (2014) “The English Mixed Methods Approaches. London: Premier League Internet Broadcasting SAGE Publications. Rights Selling Model – Historical Study” Scientific Gray, D. E. (2004). Doing Research in the Journal of Education, Sports, and Health, Real World. London: SAGE Publications. Vol. XIX, Issue 2 / 2018 Helfferich, Cornelia (2009). Die Alexopoulos, P. (2010), “Football Qualitätqualitativer Daten. Manual für die Entrepreneurship, Administration Durchführung qualitative Interviews. Structure and Organization of Greek Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Professional Football” I. Sideris Sozialwissenschaften. publishing, Athens, (in Greek). Igoumakakis N., Kravaritis K., Lytras P., Alexopoulos, P. (2014), “The economics (1998), Introduction to Tourism, of professional football: The financial Interbooks status of the Greek and European football clubs under the Financial Fair Play”, in Igoumanakis N., (2007), Tourist Economy, “The organization of professional football Interbooks in Greece and Europe: Organizational and economic analysis”, I. Sideris publishing, Kvale, S. (1996). Interviews: An Athens, 95-134 (in Greek). introduction to qualitative research interviewing. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. Alexopoulos, P. (2014), “The organization of professional football in Greece and LAGO, U., BARONCELLI, A. & Europe: Organizational and economic SZYMANSKI, S. (2006). (Εds.), Il analysis”, I. Sideris publishing, Athens (in Business del Calcio, Egea, Milano, 2004. Greek). Marshall, C. & Rossman, G. B. Altinay, L. & Paraskevas, A. (2008). (2006). Designing Qualitative Research. Planning research in hospitality and Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage. tourism. Oxford: Elsevier.

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Presentation at the National Seminar on She has published articles on sustainable tourism development organizational matters of sports management. She is working in London Neuman, W. L. (2007). Social Research for Arsenal F.C Methods: Qualitative and Quantitative Approaches. Boston: Pearson. Dr Panagiotis Alexopoulos is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Sport NICOLIELLO, & NICOLIELLO, M. management, University of Peloponnese. (2008). Reddito e capitale nelle società di Member of Steering Committee of calcio: la massima serie italiana 1998- Postgraduate Studies. His research 2007, in Rivista di Diritto ed Economia interests are on the management of dello Sport 67-94, vol. 4, (2); professional team sports and especially football and basketball. Also, he is Parks J.B., Quarterman J., Thibault L., specialized in the issue of betting in (2007) Contemporary Sport Management. professional sports. Executive Advisor for Human Kinetics. Third Edition. P. 442 – General Department of Betting at OPAP 450 (I.O.A. Library) S.A. for Strategy, Marketing – Odds. He has published six books and numerous Robson, Colin (2002). Real World articles on organizational matters of Research: A Resource for Social Scientists professional football. Project Manager of and Practitioner Researchers. Oxford: the Program of the Ministry of Industry Blackwell and especially the General Secretariat for Research and Technology ''talent detection VENTURELLI, (2009) VENTURELLI, in Greek football'' in cooperation with V. (2008). Costi e ricavi, investimenti e fi Greek universities and the Greek football nanziamenti nelle società di calico, federation. Research Associate of the Management del Calcio, Greek Football Federation and president of 34-62, Milano: Franco Angeli; scientific committee of Greek Football Federation. Business consultant on football Authors Biography matters of OPAP S.A., after contest, with works contract. Member of the Expert Panagiota Tsekeri is a PhD student from Group of the General Secretariat of Sports the University of Peloponnese in Greece. for the study of the environment of the Panagiota earned a MSc in International Greek Professional Sports. The team dealt Tourism and Hospitality Management with the issues of arbitration, violence, from University of Hertfordshire in UK business, doping, and sports justice and BSc in Sports Management from Creating a Business Action Plan (business University of Peloponnese in Greece. pla n) of the General Secretariat of Sports.

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