Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
food festivals, and the like. Consequently, events have shown tremendous growth as small and
medium-size towns seek tourism dollars through short-term events. IFEA estimates that every year
there are between 50,000 and 60,000 half-day to one-day events and 5,000 or more festivals of
two days or longer.
IFEA has provided cutting-edge professional development and fundraising ideas for the special
events industry for 55 years. Through publications, seminars, annual conventions, trade shows, and
ongoing networking, IFEA is advancing festivals and events throughout the world. More than 2,000
professionals are currently members. IFEA is located in Boise, Idaho; telephone (208) 433-0950; fax
(208) 433-9812; Web site
www.ifea.com
.
SPORTING EVENTS
The world of sports has grown up along with tourism over the past 50 years
to the point where
certain sporting mega-events are catalysts for creating substantial amounts of travel and tourism. In
North America (and the United States in particular, where sports and entertainment are an integral
part of daily life), baseball's World Series has been the forerunner of the sports-driven hallmark event.
It has served as a catalyst for extensive amounts of travel on the part of spectator fans, media
professionals, and supporting technicians. More recently, the National Football League
—
s Super Bowl
provides a preeminent annual stimulus for travel activity throughout the country. At the international
level, the Summer Olympic Games, whose media dominance every four years has historically made it
the world
'
s premier sporting event, now threatens being overshadowed by the World Cup of Football/
Soccer, another mega-hallmark-event that is also held every four years
'
but one that is much less
elitist. As such, it draws attention from a much wider spectrum of the world population. It follows that
its travel implications are also, in all likelihood, greater than the Olympics, although, to our knowledge
this reality has not yet been formally documented.
In addition to these famous events there are also countless other sporting events such as the
Commonwealth Games, Pan American Games, All Africa Games, and Asian Games that also create
much travel. Sports such as football, basketball, baseball, soccer, volleyball, tennis, golf, lacrosse,
rugby, skiing, swimming, diving, track and
field, and many others are being played by both men and
women. They are played at many levels: professional, college, semi-pro, high school, and amateur
leagues. When one thinks of all the sporting activities that take place in the world and the fans that
they attract, it is clear these events are a powerful, broadly based force for travel.
—
SHOPPING
Shopping
is activities. Shopping leads as the number one or two
activity while traveling for both domestic and international travelers. U.S. Travel Association reports
that shopping continues to be one of the most popular of common activities for U.S. travelers, along
with dining. The Of
ce of Travel and Tourism Industries in the U.S. Department of Commerce reports
that shopping is the top leisure activity participated in by overseas travelers; 86.6 percent shopped in
the United States as part of their vacation activities.
An example of shopping's importance is the Bayside Marketplace. Launched by the Rouse
Company in April 1987, the Bayside Marketplace has attracted more than 120 million visitors
from South Florida and around the world. The Greater Miami Convention and Visitors Bureau
has repeatedly identi
ed Bayside as Miami
is an important part of any tourist
'
s number-one visitor attraction, and Florida
Trend magazine recently named Bayside as the
fifth-most-visited attraction in the state of Florida.
Bayside has nearly 140 shops offering a variety of merchandise in both the North and South
Pavilions and Pier 5 Marketplace.
-
Dade County
'
e and nine additional full-service
restaurants offer everything from Italian to Caribbean, Spanish, Nicaraguan, Cuban, and American
In addition, Hard Rock Caf
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