Introduction
The United Kingdom has a rich cultural heritage, and many events and festivals occur throughout the year. This shows different aspects of the country’s history and traditions. Mega events are extensive, extraordinary events that attract many visitors from all over the world. These events are often organized for specific reasons and purposes, such as sports, culture, or entertainment. Examples of mega events include the Olympic Games. Mega events have significant economic benefits to the host and neighboring communities.
Below are some reasons why these extraordinary events are essential. First, the events contribute to economic development for the countries holding them (Lee et al., 2017). The events promote tourism, create job opportunities and enable the host countries to develop infrastructure through the revenue collected from the events. The mega events allow the host country to be recognized internationally, which opens it up to transnational trade, foreign exchange, and diplomatic relations.
The social and cultural impacts of the mega events include bringing together people from different backgrounds and promoting diversity and inclusion. Therefore, understanding mega-events effects can help policymakers and event organizers better plan and manage future events, ensuring they are sustainable, beneficial, and enjoyable for all stakeholders. People participate in sports as spectators in broadcasting and social media. The state is now cognizant of the place of these mega events in the cultural and social development of societies (Houlihan et al., 2015).
This research project will only focus on the United Kingdom to understand the impact of the mega events in the United Kingdom and its environment. Several surveys have been carried out about the above topic and will be used during this research. The report argues whether mega events impact sustainable development in the UK. The result of sustainable transportation systems in the UK for mega events has positively impacted the tourism industry in the UK. The project also focuses on the impact of improving the accessibility of mega-event venues for visitors with a disability. It is expected that improving accessibility can increase tourism. This project also argues that mega-events can create jobs for residents during and after the event.
Literature Review
Transport is an essential aspect of the tourism industry as it facilitates the movement of tourists from one destination to another. Using sustainable transportation systems has been identified as an effective means of promoting the growth of the tourism industry while minimizing negative environmental impacts (Pucher et al., 2017). The development of sustainable transportation systems in the UK for mega events has positively impacted the overall tourism industry. Sound transportation systems in the UK have positively impacted the tourism industry during mega-events. Studies have shown that sustainable transportation options such as cycling and walking paths, public transportation, and car-sharing services reduce the tourism industry’s carbon footprint. Additionally, using sustainable transportation systems helps minimize congestion and pollution, improving the overall quality of life for tourists and locals (Boluk et al., 2019). The development of sustainable transportation systems for mega events contributes to the overall economic growth of the tourism industry.
Sustainable transportation systems have been shown to attract more tourists to the UK, thereby increasing the demand for hotels, restaurants, and other tourism-related services. All persons benefit from sustainable tourism as the assets used during mega evens open up the host communities for international trade(Preuss & Holger, 2018). This increased demand creates more job opportunities and generates revenue for local businesses and the government. Despite the agreement in the literature on the positive impacts of sustainable transportation systems on the tourism industry, some studies have identified potential challenges in implementing these systems. For instance, some researchers have noted that the high cost of developing and maintaining sustainable transportation infrastructure could be a barrier to their widespread adoption (Sharifi et al., 2018)
One area of contradiction in the literature is the extent to which the development of sustainable transportation systems for mega events is sustainable in the long term. Some studies have suggested that the development of transportation infrastructure for mega events is for a short time and does not last for long. These studies argue that the emphasis on short-term solutions could result in a lack of long-term planning, leading to a decline in the sustainability of transportation systems after the event. Conversely, other researchers have suggested that developing transportation infrastructure for mega events facilitates long-term sustainability in the tourism industry (Gossling et al., 2021). They argue that the infrastructure developed for mega events can be transformed and used for ongoing sustainable transportation systems that benefit the tourism industry in the long term
The second argument surrounding sustainable transport and tourism is the ability of the former to promote development in rural areas. Only the urban areas benefit from infrastructural developments from sports and cultural days. Although rural areas also play an essential role in the tourism industry, they only benefit a little from mega-events (Lekovik et al, 2020). Some studies have suggested that developing sustainable transportation systems in rural areas could positively impact the tourism industry by providing access to previously inaccessible destinations. However, others have argued that the unique characteristics of rural areas make implementing sustainable transportation systems more challenging. For example, the low population density in rural areas could make it more difficult to justify the investment in sustainable transportation infrastructure (Salvatore et al., 2018)
Accessibility is a critical factor in tourism and mega-events, as it enables visitors with disabilities to participate in the activities and experiences fully. According to the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), approximately 15% of the global population has some form of disability(WHO Policy on disability. 2021). This is likely to increase due to population aging and other factors. Ensuring that tourism and event venues are accessible to all visitors is a matter of social responsibility and inclusivity and has economic benefits. It can increase visitor satisfaction, loyalty, and expenditure and enhance the destination’s reputation and the event.
Several studies have focused on the laws and policy frameworks that regulate accessibility in tourism and mega-events (Whelan et al., 2020). These frameworks include national and international laws, regulations, guidelines, standards, corporate policies, and best practices. Researchers have found that not all mega events adhere to the laws and policies of sustainable tourism and development. Some of the reasons why planners fail to adhere to the laws and policies governing mega-events are minimum, inconsistent, or poor enforcement which can lead to barriers and discrimination against visitors with disabilities(Horne &John, 2017). However, they also suggest that improving accessibility can significantly enhance the satisfaction and enjoyment of visitors with disabilities, leading to increased loyalty and positive referrals to other people.
Hosting mega events could create short-term employment for residents, with the potential for long-term job growth in some cases. Furthermore, research suggests that mega-events can also have indirect employment benefits, such as increased spending by tourists and visitors, which can boost local economies and create new job opportunities. Research suggests there can be a need for more local hiring in some cases, with event organizers bringing in outside labor instead of hiring residents. This can lead to tensions between event organizers and local communities. There are also contradictions and controversies in the literature on the employment benefits of mega-events. They argue that mega-events can lead to the displacement of local businesses, as event-related construction and infrastructure projects may divert resources away from other sectors of the economy. This can result in net job losses in some cases. Another controversial issue in the literature is how mega-events create low-quality, insecure jobs. Most jobs created by mega events are low-skilled and low-paid, with little opportunity for career progression. This can lead to a situation where residents are employed but are still struggling to make ends meet due to low wages and insecure employment (Baum et al., 2019)
References
Gössling, S., & Higham, J. (2021). The low-carbon imperative: Destination management under urgent climate change. Journal of Travel Research, 60(6), 1167-1179.
Houlihan, B., & Malcolm, D. (Eds.). (2015). Sport and society: a student introduction. Sage.
Lee, C. K., Mjelde, J. W., & Kwon, Y. J. (2017). Estimating the economic impact of a mega-event on host and neighboring regions. Leisure Studies, 36(1), 138-152.
Leković, M., Cvijanović, D., Pantić, N., & Stanišić, T. (2020). Evaluative bibliometric analysis of recent trends in rural tourism literature. Економика пољопривреде, 67(4), 1265-1282.
Preuss, H. (2018). A framework for identifying the legacies of a mega sports event. In Leveraging Mega-Event Legacies (pp. 29–50). Routledge.
Pucher, J., & Buehler, R. (2017). Cycling towards a more sustainable transport future. Transport Reviews, 37(6), 689-694.
Salvatore, R., Chiodo, E., & Fantini, A. (2018). Tourism transition in peripheral rural areas: Theories, issues, and strategies. Annals of Tourism Research, 68, 41-51.
Sharifi, A., & Yamagata, Y. (2018). Resilient urban form: A conceptual framework. Resilience-oriented urban planning: Theoretical and empirical insights, 167-179.
Whelan, C., & Molnar, A. (2020). Managing flows during mega-events: taking account of internal and external flows in public order policing operations. In The Policing of Flows (pp. 12-33). Routledge.
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