Sport destination competitiveness and attractiveness: Scale development and validation

Abstract

Without a standardized scale, evaluating different sport destinations and identifying contexts for improvement or growth becomes challenging. This hinders the ability of researchers and policymakers to make informed decisions and implement effective strategies for developing and promoting destinations. As far as we know, no such scale is currently available. To bridge this gap, we use a rigorous multi-step scale development procedure to create a scale focusing on destination competitiveness and attractiveness. Initially, we defined the construct's scope. Next, we created items through a literature review, semi-structured interviews, and fuzzy Delphi, followed by a content validity assessment. We then gathered data for testing, involving 237 participants in item refining, 477 in scale validation, and 355 in nomological validity assessment. The results confirmed a six-dimensional and twenty-one-item scale with acceptable reliability and validity levels. The scale offers valuable insights from theoretical, methodological, and managerial perspectives for researchers and practitioners involved in developing sport tourism destinations.