Unlocking the Potentials and Challenges of Sport Tourism Through Major Cricket Events in Bangladesh

Abstract

Tourism is adopted explicitly or implicitly by newly industrialising economies, emerging economies, and many resource-poor developing countries, as a fast tracked development strategy (Yabuuchi, 2017; see also Islam & Carlsen, 2012). Sport tourism has also become popular among policymakers and planners due to its socioeconomic impact (Ross, 2001; Gibson et al., 2012; Allameh et al., 2015). Bangladesh, as an emerging country, considers tourism to be one of its most promising economic sectors (Uddin et al., 2012; Prince & Khaleq, 2013). The Cricket World Cup (CWC) in 2011 helped Bangladesh to demonstrate its potential as a tourist destination as well as its performance as a cricketing nation (Bandyopadhyay, 2013). By adopting a qualitative case study approach based on Foucault's theory of power/knowledge and governmentality, and stakeholder theory, this thesis aims to critically analyse and explore the complex relationships among the key stakeholders in sport and tourism organisations which can influence or challenge the potential of sport tourism in Bangladesh.

In-depth interviews were conducted with key policymakers from the Bangladesh Parjatan Corporation (BPC), the Bangladesh Tourism Board (BTB), and the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB). Participants from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Tourism (MoCAT), the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MYS), and other stakeholders from relevant sport and tourism organisations were also interviewed. Secondary data was gathered from multiple data sources and analysed to provide an understanding of the existing circumstances of the sport and tourism industries of Bangladesh.

The findings suggest that an unequal power relationship, resulting in a lack of coordination between the key sport and tourism associations in the country, is constraining the perceived potential of sport tourism in Bangladesh. This research has generated new knowledge concerning the complex relationships between sport and tourism organisations. In the specific context of Bangladesh, it has increased the knowledge of the potential of sport tourism to move both the sport and tourism sectors forward.

Date of Award	2020
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	Glasgow Caledonian University
Supervisor	Fiona Reid (Supervisor), Fiona Skillen (Supervisor), Julie McColl (Supervisor) & Norman Peng (Supervisor)