Title: Understanding the dynamics shaping sports tourism ventures: a mixed method approach

Authors: Vartika Kapoor; Armaanjit Singh

Addresses: Symbiosis Centre for Management Studies, Noida Campus, 201301, India; Symbiosis International (Deemed University), Pune, India ' WPP Media, New Delhi, WPP plc, New Delhi, 11008, India

Abstract: The aim of the study was to explore the factors influencing entrepreneurial intention in sports tourism sector in emerging economies. The author employed mixed method approach, and used in-depth semi-structured interviews of 24 entrepreneurs for data collection. The thematic analysis was conducted to identify the factors influencing entrepreneurial intention. Further, 93 entrepreneurs in travel and tourism sector were surveyed to collect the data for prioritising the identified factors using Friedman test. Key findings reveal that technology-enabled market expansion, India's vast population, data-driven consumer preferences, sports knowledge and government investment in sports infrastructure are top five factors that are pivotal in shaping entrepreneurial behaviour in this niche sector. The factors were mapped with the Individual opportunity nexus theory and Dynamic capabilities theory. The results provide actionable insights for policymakers to foster entrepreneurship and for entrepreneurs to leverage emerging opportunities in sports tourism.

Keywords: sports; tourism; entrepreneurship; mixed method; individual opportunity nexus; dynamic capabilities.

DOI: 10.1504/IJGSB.2025.152478

International Journal of Globalisation and Small Business, 2025 Vol.15 No.4, pp.477 - 504

Received: 30 May 2025
Accepted: 12 Nov 2025
Published online: 23 Mar 2026 *

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