Study published in Tourism Economy raises questions, but ministry ‘thrilled’ to host seven games
B.C.’s tourism ministry is defending playing host to FIFA’s Men’s World Cup in 2026 amidst research that raises questions about the event’s long-term impact.
A study by German research Christopher Vierhaus published in 2019 in the academic journal Tourism Economics, finds that “surprisingly, hosting the World Cup is ineffective in promoting tourism” in the long-run.
“Although international tourism increases in the event year, this growth is more than offset by the decreased tourism from (one) to (four) years after the event. “
Vierhaus’ study looks whether hosting mega-sporting events like the Olympics or soccer’s World Cup is a useful marketing platform for…