Event tourist experience value: multi-item scale development and validation

Purpose No study to date has addressed the construct of event tourist experience value and there is no well-accepted value measurement method. This study aims to examine the underlying dimensions of event tourist experience value from a holistic perspective. Design/methodology/approach The research process consists of two steps. First, the dimensions of event tourist experience value are investigated by using grounded theory and content analysis of travel blogs. The second step is to explore and verify the scale of event tourist experience value. Findings The items show that event tourist experience value can be comprehensively understood from three dimensions: functional value (functional factors); hedonic value (relaxation, escape, restoration and interaction); and symbolic value (social prestige, belonging and self-transcendence). Practical implications The findings are useful indicators explaining events attendance, and can help event organizers and destination managers to better understand the needs of tourists and design event experiences in a more sophisticated way. Originality/value This work integrates a series of varied events to suggest a holistic view of event tourist experience value, which provides a theoretical basis for other scholars to compare and monitor findings in this field.