TY - JOUR
T1 - Transformative potential of events : the case of gay ski week in Queenstown, New Zealand
AU - Coetzee, Willem J. L.
AU - Liu, Xiang Neo
AU - Filep, Crystal V.
PY - 2019
Y1 - 2019
N2 - Purpose – Previous research has explored a relatively narrow representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer (LGBTQ) community. Yet modern event attendees are part of a diverse niche group within the broader LGBTQ community. This group comprises a wide range of event attendees in search of more than sex, clubs and feather boas. This paper aims to report on empirical research conducted in Queenstown, New Zealand, during the 2016 Gay Ski Week (GSW) and explores the transformative, inclusive potential of event places, social atmospheres and experiences. Design/methodology/approach – Ethnographic and autoethnographic research methods were used in this study for the exploration of transformative tourism experiences. Qualitative data were collected via in-depth interviews, observations and one of the author’s immersive experiences of the event. This author was able to bridge the divide between research and participant, contributing to a contextualised understanding of various participants’ subjective realities. Findings – The paper reports on and discusses empirical findings, which are organised under the meta-themes of place and social atmosphere, attendee experiences, acceptance and inclusivity. Research limitations/implications – From these themes emerge a broader understanding of how LGBTQ tourism events can contribute to transformative, inclusive experiences. Originality/value – This paper explores the need for event managers to revisit and adapt to the demographic, motivational and behavioural characteristics of the modern gay event attendee. In particular, this paper discovers the motivations of Asian gay attendees as a marginalised community within a traditional LGBTQ event in a traditional heterosexual destination.
AB - Purpose – Previous research has explored a relatively narrow representation of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual and queer (LGBTQ) community. Yet modern event attendees are part of a diverse niche group within the broader LGBTQ community. This group comprises a wide range of event attendees in search of more than sex, clubs and feather boas. This paper aims to report on empirical research conducted in Queenstown, New Zealand, during the 2016 Gay Ski Week (GSW) and explores the transformative, inclusive potential of event places, social atmospheres and experiences. Design/methodology/approach – Ethnographic and autoethnographic research methods were used in this study for the exploration of transformative tourism experiences. Qualitative data were collected via in-depth interviews, observations and one of the author’s immersive experiences of the event. This author was able to bridge the divide between research and participant, contributing to a contextualised understanding of various participants’ subjective realities. Findings – The paper reports on and discusses empirical findings, which are organised under the meta-themes of place and social atmosphere, attendee experiences, acceptance and inclusivity. Research limitations/implications – From these themes emerge a broader understanding of how LGBTQ tourism events can contribute to transformative, inclusive experiences. Originality/value – This paper explores the need for event managers to revisit and adapt to the demographic, motivational and behavioural characteristics of the modern gay event attendee. In particular, this paper discovers the motivations of Asian gay attendees as a marginalised community within a traditional LGBTQ event in a traditional heterosexual destination.
UR - https://hdl.handle.net/1959.7/uws:69160
U2 - 10.1108/TR-10-2018-0148
DO - 10.1108/TR-10-2018-0148
M3 - Article
SN - 0251-3102
VL - 74
SP - 1081
EP - 1090
JO - Tourism Review
JF - Tourism Review
IS - 5
ER -