Participation in active sport tourism: impact assessment of destination involvement and perceived risk

ABSTRACT Sport tourism has been gaining importance in recent times, and its impact on destinations is significant. This study measures the main motivations to participate in active sport tourism in Poland. It focuses on mediating and moderating the relationship between travel motives and destination involvement, coupled with perceived risk and intention to participate. It conceptualizes a comprehensive model of motivational factors, vis a vis their relationship with participation intention. Data were collected from a sample of young adults aged 18–35, using a self-administered questionnaire survey. The results show that active sport tourists are likely to modify their intention to participate based on a chosen destination. Moreover, the results also help in identifying the mediating role of destination involvement, along with the moderating impact of perceived risk. Notably, the perceived risk does tend to have a negative effect on the relationship between destination involvement and participation intention.