Hosting Mega Events in Island Micro States: Barbados and the Golf World Cup | CREATESPACE

Overview

Hosting mega events in small island contexts blends international excitement with distinctive local realities. This book offers a trans-historical lens on how hallmark events take shape in island micro states, using Barbados as a primary case study and the Golf World Cup as a guiding example. Readers will encounter a thoughtful balance of theory, context, and firsthand voices that illuminate the opportunities and constraints of event hosting without resorting to hype.

Set against sunlit shores, coastal communities, and modern stadiums, the narrative guides readers through the dance between global spectacle and local stewardship. The text invites curiosity about how decisions ripple across tourism, governance, and everyday life, and how researchers and practitioners can approach such studies with rigor and sensitivity.

Who this book is for

This work is designed for scholars, students, and industry professionals who want an practical, introductory understanding of the complexities involved in hosting large-scale events on small islands. It supports both academic inquiry and professional planning by offering a clear framework for qualitative exploration within an distinctive island setting.

Inside you’ll discover

Key themes include:

• qualitative research structures drawn from fieldwork conducted on Barbados in December 2006
• ethical, linguistic, and cultural nuances that surface in local narratives
• practical considerations for staging landmark events with a coastal community in mind
• the Golf World Cup as a lens on global-local dynamics and planning implications

Real-world applications illuminate how theory translates into practice, from stakeholder engagement to resource management. The book offers a lens on how local context informs decisions, what risks may arise, and how researchers and professionals can document findings responsibly.

What you’ll gain

• clear frameworks for qualitative analysis tailored to island contexts
• insights into balancing ambition with community impact, sustainability, and local value
• narrative-rich case material that enriches classroom discussion or professional briefings

Whether you’re preparing a research proposal, planning a conference, or designing a case-study for coursework, this work invites you to consider possibilities rather than guarantees, and to approach mega-event hosting with curiosity and rigor.

Context and tone

The research emphasizes authentic voices and situates debates within a real-world setting, acknowledging sensitive narratives and offering a cautious, evidence-based perspective. It aims to support informed decision-making while avoiding overpromising results.