Title of Paper

Examining Pilots as Serious Leisure Travelers to Air Show Events

Author Bios (50 Words for each Author)

Kim Pham is a PhD Candidate in Community Resources and Development at ASU. She achieved an M.S. degree in Parks, Recreation and Tourism at the University of Missouri. Kim worked for travel companies in Vietnam and the Center for Sustainable Tourism at ASU. Her research focuses on sustainability, overtourism, and tourism stakeholders.

Deepak Chhabra, PhD, teaches in the School of Community Resources and Development at Arizona State University, Phoenix (USA). Her research interests include authenticity and authentication of heritage; social and economic viability of different forms of tourism; and wellness and wellbeing through alternate healing/preventive therapeutic settings and programs.

Nick Wise, PhD, is an Assistant Professor at Arizona State University. Nicholas has travelled extensively in 100 countries and conducted internationally focused research. His current research focuses on placemaking, competitiveness, social regeneration, and community impacts, conducting work across the areas of sport, events, and tourism.

Abstract (150 Words)

Serious leisure (SL) is an extensively research area in literature. However, pilots performing in airshows remains an under-researched line of inquiry. This (in-progress) study examines the motivations of a niche cohort: pilots. Stebbins SL attributes (perseverance, significant personal efforts, career, durable benefits, strong identify, and unique ethos) are used to determine if they are evident in the flying/performing hobby of the pilots. Additionally, this study offers insights on how performing in airshows can contribute to overall well-being. A mix of content analysis and semiotic analysis is employed. Data include narration content (e.g., reviews, journal writings) and visual content (e.g., photos, signs), collected from online platforms and event sites (such as airshow sites). Findings confirm that pilots flying/performing in airshows is a SL activity and is influenced by social factors and the influence of media. Based on the results, several strategic implications are offered from airshow marketing and event management standpoints.

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Examining Pilots as Serious Leisure Travelers to Air Show Events

Serious leisure (SL) is an extensively research area in literature. However, pilots performing in airshows remains an under-researched line of inquiry. This (in-progress) study examines the motivations of a niche cohort: pilots. Stebbins SL attributes (perseverance, significant personal efforts, career, durable benefits, strong identify, and unique ethos) are used to determine if they are evident in the flying/performing hobby of the pilots. Additionally, this study offers insights on how performing in airshows can contribute to overall well-being. A mix of content analysis and semiotic analysis is employed. Data include narration content (e.g., reviews, journal writings) and visual content (e.g., photos, signs), collected from online platforms and event sites (such as airshow sites). Findings confirm that pilots flying/performing in airshows is a SL activity and is influenced by social factors and the influence of media. Based on the results, several strategic implications are offered from airshow marketing and event management standpoints.