Spectators' perceptions of esports tourism

Authors

  • Gizem Özgürel Balıkesir University, Burhaniye Faculty of Applied Sciences, Department of Tourism Management, 10700 Balıkesir, Türkiye.
  • Nercü Durmuş Aydın Tokat Gaziosmanpaşa University, Reşadiye Vocational School, Department of Management and Organization, 60700 Tokat, Türkiye.
  • Emre Çilesiz Sinop University, Tourism Faculty, Department of Tourism Guidance, 57000 Sinop, Türkiye.
  • Aydın Ünal Sinop University, Tourism Faculty, Department of Recreation Management, 57000 Sinop, Türkiye.
  • Onur Çelen Bursa Uludağ University, Harmancık Vocational School, Department of Hotel, Restaurant and Catering Services, 16770 Bursa, Türkiye.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.689241
Keywords: Tourism, Sport, eSport

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify how the concept of "eSports tourism", which combines the concepts of "eSports" and "tourism," is conceptualized through metaphors by participants of this form of tourism. To achieve this, a phenomenological research design was preferred as a qualitative research method. A total of 656 individuals (n=656; 594 males and 62 females) who had participated in eSports tourism at least once were reached. Participants from various gaming platforms and communities were asked to complete a semi-structured form containing the expression "eSports tourism is like... because...". The metaphors obtained were coded using MaxQDA 2020 software and categorized into six main themes. The findings reveal that eSports tourism is most commonly associated with the themes of "Technology" (29.3%) and "Entertainment" (26.2%). It was determined that the vast majority of participants were male (90.54%) and that they had typically participated in eSports tourism once (67.37%). The most preferred game types were found to be First Person Shooter (FPS) and Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA). It was concluded that eSports tourism, while based on technological infrastructure, offers an entertainment-oriented experience, and also carries cultural and social dimensions.

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Published
23-11-2025
How to Cite
Özgürel, G., Aydın, N. D., Çilesiz, E., Ünal, A., & Çelen, O. (2025). Spectators’ perceptions of esports tourism. SPORT TK-EuroAmerican Journal of Sport Sciences, 14, 123. https://doi.org/10.6018/sportk.689241
Issue
Vol. 14 (2025)
Section
Articles

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The works and papers that are published in this Journal are subject to the following terms:

1. The Publication Service of the University of Murcia (the publisher) has the Publication Rights (Copyright) to the published papers and works, and favors and permits the reusing of the same under the license indicated in point 2.

© Servicio de Publicaciones, Universidad de Murcia, 2013

2. The papers and works are to be published in the digital edition of the Journal under the license Creative Commons Reconocimiento-No Comercial-Sin Obra Derivada 3.0 España (legal text). The copying, using, spreading, transmitting and publicly displaying of the papers, works or publication are permitted as long as: i) the authors and original sources (Journal, publisher and URL of the publication) are quoted; ii) it is not used for commercial benefit; iii) the existence and specifications of this users license are mentioned.

3. Conditions of Self-Archiving. It is permitted and encouraged that the authors spread electronically the pre-print (before printing) and/or post-print (the revised, evaluated and accepted) versions of their papers or works before their publication since this favors their circulation and early diffusion and therefore can help increase their citation and quotation, and also there reach through the academic community.