Sport event ecotourism: sustainability of trail racing events in US National Parks

The growth in sport event tourism to beautiful environments has led to some desirable benefits in many rural destinations, however it can also contribute to over-tourism, which is disadvantageous. This impact can be understood by examining sport event ecotourism - the sustainability and educational practices of events that occur in natural environments. The purpose of this study was to explore the juxtaposition of sport events and ecotourism by using the World Tourism Organization's (WTO) Sustainability Indicators as a framework. A qualitative approach, using participant observation, semi-structured interviews, visual ethnography and content analysis, was employed to examine the sustainability practices of Vacation Races' Grand Trailfest, which took place in a rural mountain town in Utah and throughout three national parks in the area. Findings suggest there are additional indicators extending beyond the WTO's framework: education, literacy, political/special agendas and economic development that will help better identify ecotourism practices of sport events. Contributions to theory and practical implications are discussed.