This research note takes a brief empirical look at the expenditure patterns and tourist behaviours of road-race tourists to Charleston, South Carolina during the city's annual Cooper River Bridge Run, which last year attracted more than 45,000 participants. The findings suggest that runners/walkers are less than ideal tourists for the community. The note concludes with suggestions to tourism officials in other communities that may be considering the addition of a road race to their annual events calendar.
CromptonJ.L. (2006), ‘Economic impact studies: Instruments for political shenanigans’, Journal of Travel Research, Vol 45, No 1, pp 67–82.
2.
DanielsM.J.NormanW.C.HenryM.S. (2004), ‘Estimating income effects of a sports tourism event’, Annals of Tourism Research, Vol 31, No 1, pp 180–199.
3.
FoxW.F.MurrayM.N. (2004), ‘Do economics justify the use of fiscal incentives?’, Southern Economic Journal, Vol 71, No 1, pp 78–92.
4.
HartsellJ. (2006), ‘Cooper River Bridge Run 2006, phantom finish’, [Charleston, SC] Post and Courier, 2 April, http://newsfiles.charleston.net.
5.
LauA.L.S.McKercherB. (2004), ‘Exploration versus acquisition: A comparison of first-time and repeat visitors’, Journal of Travel Research, Vol 42, No 3, pp 279–285.
6.
LitvinS.W. (2006), Charleston Area Paid Attraction Visitorship, Summer 2005 Study, report prepared for the Charleston Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and available in the College of Charleston Addlestone Library, Charleston, SC.
7.
LitvinS.W.FetterE. (2006), ‘Can a festival be too successful? A review of Spoleto, USA’, International Journal of Contemporary Hospitality Management, Vol 18, No 1, pp 41–49.
8.
OTA (2006), (Office of Tourism Analysis, College of Charleston, Department of Hospitality and Tourism Management, Charleston, SC), data obtained from the organization.