The Impact of COVID-19 on Sports Tourism Expenditures

We examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on participants' expenditures in sports events. Specifically, we analyze survey data collected from participants of a major amateur cycling race, capturing information about both utilitarian and hedonic expenses. Our investigation covers three waves of data collection: pre-COVID-19 in 2016, post-lockdown in 2021, and post-COVID-19 in 2022. Using a quasi-difference-in-differences approach, we find a significant increase in expenditures due to COVID-19, mainly driven by hedonic motivations. This finding can be attributed to revenge spending as a form of compensatory consumption