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Special Interest Tourism (SIT) involves group or individual tours by people who wish to develop certain interests & visit sites/places connected with specific subject. The members in the group tend to have same / similar hobbies / interests. Set of activities which differentiate the tourists.
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Special Interest Tourism & Sochi ’14 - Aritro Dasgupta
Special Interest Tourism • Special Interest Tourism (SIT) involves group or individual tours by people who wish to develop certain interests & visit sites/places connected with specific subject • The members in the group tend to have same / similar hobbies / interests • Set of activities which differentiate the tourists
Classification of SIT • Active- sports, cycling, hiking, skiing, sailing • Social- youth tours, clubbing • Educational- cooking, language schools • Discovery-Antarctic exploring, Galapagos expeditions • Hobbies- wine tasting, garden tours, flower shows
Classification of SIT • Challenge/ Excitement- climbing Everest, trekking • Relaxation- cruising, canal boats, camping • Health & Therapy- spa holidays, medical tours
Factors that Opened up SIT Market • Development of winter sports • Increase in paid holidays • Social changes leading to cash rich / time poor consumers seeking better quality / stimulating holidays • Development in specialist equipment & systems • Regeneration of urban areas increasing their appeal
Winter Olympics • Started 1924, held every 2 years • After 1992, next held in 1994 to shift the cycle away from years when Summer Olympics were held • Includes all major sporting events held during winter months across countries where temperatures remain cold for much of the year • Mountains necessary for conducting
Sochi 2014 • Held in February 2014 • First time held in Russia • Sochi lies on Black Sea coast • Sochi unusual choice for Russia; a country that remains frigid for much of the year; Sochi experiences relatively sub-tropical conditions • Presence of Caucasus mountain range • First time Winter Olympics held on seaside
Sochi 2014 • Sochi geographically surrounded by ‘freedom movements’ in Chechnya & Dagestan as well has hostile nation of Georgia • Political reasons played major role in Sochi’s bid success; became centrepeice of new Russia • Also held amidst backdrop of Climate Change meaning artificial snow had to be hauled in • US$ 51 billion spent makes it the most expensive Olympic Games ever (Vancouver 2010 cost US4 7 billion)
Disciplines • Alpine Skiing • Biathlon • Bobsleigh • Cross Country Skiing • Curling • Figure Skating • Freestyle Skiing • Ice Hockey
Disciplines • Luge • Nordic Combined • Short Track speed skating • Skeleton • Ski Jumping • Snowboarding • Speed skating
Major Challenges Met by Sochi Team • Transportation of millions of tons of snow • Flattening of surfaces at parts of the Caucasus to enable railway lines • Building of infrastructure- downhill & flat • Development of Sochi International Airport
Failures on Tourism Side • Record breaking cost of construction created unsustainable costs for the locals • Environmental wreckage of the Caucasus belt • Bureaucracy meant Visa applications took longer time & greater amount of money • Sochi surrounded on all sides as a terrorism target • Leaked stories of cronyism put people off
Failures on Tourism Side • Biggest drawback being a comparative lack of snow • Travel time inconvenient (especially track between Sochi & KransayaPolyana)
Legacy? • Winter Paralympics to be held within 2 weeks of end of Olympics • Formula 1 track for Russia Grand Prix ‘14 near the site • One of the proposed football stadiums for 2018 World Cup
Major Ethical Dilemma • Should major sporting events be held outside the traditional axis of North America & western Europe on logic of spread? Or • Should they continue in the traditional axis to reduce costs spiraling out of control & ensure better legacy?