JCET special issue: International mega-events, urban changes and tourism

Abstract

In a context of increasing competition between cities to attract and retain tourists, new inhabitants and/or companies, a fast-growing trend has become the effort to stage events (Getz & Page, 2016). These may be trade fairs, exhibitions, festivals, or events in the sporting, cultural or corporate spheres. Moreover, depending on the strength of their links with tourism, events can vary in size (Getz & Page, 2016): occasional megaevents; regular symbolic events; regional and local events. While these events are by definition time-limited, some (especially mega-events and other large events) can be very long-term projects. According to Chappelet (2018), the process of organizing the Olympic Games and establishing their legacy extends over a period of nearly 12 years, including the bidding phase (around 3 years), the planning phase (around 7 years), the staging of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (2 months), the closing ceremony, and the post-event infrastructure rearrangements (2 years). Cities exploit these events for long-term urban transformation projects (Gold and Gold, 2008; Gravari-Barbas & Jacquot, 2007; Gravari-Barbas, 2009; METROPOLIS, 2002; Pradel, 2010). Bidding to host events, in particular mega-events, is increasingly an instrument for formalizing urban development strategies (Lauermann, 2019). Because they require infrastructures of different kinds (big luxury hotels, convention centers, large sports and/or cultural facilities, transport infrastructures, etc.), they contribute to urban development. For example, Barcelona used the 1984 Olympic Games to redesign its waterfront (Pinto & Lopes dos Santos, 2022). Beijing took advantage of the 2008 Games to replace the old hutongs with buildings that symbolize modernity (Price & Dayan, 2008). The 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games provided an opportunity for the city to change its image by razing its favelas (Magalhães, 2016) and building new transport https://doi.org/10.1080/15470148.2023.2191403