An investigation of event-led regeneration: Does this have an impact on attracting visitors to a destination?

Abstract

The focus of this research is to examine the extent to which event-led regeneration is effective, and how in turn the regeneration of cities, by events, has an impact on attracting tourists to a destination. The objectives that helped aid this research were: 1. To explore why events are used as a tool for regenerating cities. 2. To identify the impacts caused by using an event to regenerate a city. 3. To investigate whether the impacts of using an event to regenerate a city have an effect on attracting tourists. The research project used a qualitative approach to source and gather rich information. The method for data collection was 4 semi structured interviews. The findings of this research suggest that an event led regeneration project can be successful if implemented correctly. Many cities will thrive from the hosting of an event, however there are still many risks, including the risks of displacement, gentrification and white elephants.