Environmental Sustainability Engagement by the Australian Event Sector during a Pandemic Period

Jan  Hendrik Gerard Hutte

doi:10.25918/thesis.294

Over the last decade, the environmental impacts of events and related ecological sustainability have been of concern to increasing numbers of event organising bodies and participants. While some scholars have argued that COVID-19 might be a window of opportunity to reset the sustainability of the tourism and events industry, very little is known about the impact of the crisis to date. This study aims to develop a better understanding of the impacts of COVID-19 on the environmental sustainability practices and engagement of the Australian event sector. To address this research aim, three objectives served to structure the empirical study. Research Objective One (RO1) investigated the current state of sustainability practices of Australian festivals and events to provide a context for the main empirical study. Research Objective Two (RO2) examined the effects of COVID-19 on the environmental sustainability of Australian events from the perspectives of organisers and local Council event officers. Research Objective Three (RO3) analysed the perceptions of event participants regarding the impacts of COVID-19 on event environmental sustainability. Sustainable Event Management and (Event) Crisis Management studies underpin the conceptual framework that guides this study. Within this framework, this study employed a qualitatively driven mixed methods approach. A web-based content analysis was conducted for RO1. Qualitative semi-structured interviews were undertaken to address RO2, and a descriptive survey was used to investigate RO3. The study is the first to examine the state of sustainability within the Australian festival sector through web-based content analysis. This study went beyond investigating the communication of sustainability practices alone and presents 17 sustainability dimensions. The findings offer a deeper understanding of how sustainability is integrated and communicated within the sector, providing a benchmark for assessing and enhancing sustainability practices. The study highlights the neglect of sustainability practices and engagement in current event crisis management strategies during adverse circumstances. This thesis fills this gap by exploring the impact and management of sustainability practices during the COVID-19 pandemic. The outcomes enhance our understanding and help improve the environmental sustainability practices of events during future crises. Additionally, these findings enhance our comprehension of sustainable event management during crises and lay the foundation for integrating environmental sustainability throughout all phases of event crisis management strategies. Additionally, this study addresses the limited attention given to the influence of crises on the environmental behaviour and engagement of event participants. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the findings reveal that event participants generally did not change their environmental engagement and behaviour. Most participants also expressed a noteworthy expectation for events to prioritise and maintain environmental sustainability even during crises. These findings underscore the significance of integrating sustainability efforts into future event crisis management strategies to uphold a positive environmental image for event organisations. This thesis contributes to a more nuanced understanding of the current state of sustainability within the Australian festival industry. Moreover, the study has implications for how event organisations manage crises, suggesting that improved sector preparedness, collaboration and networking are vital for sustainability during future crises.

Environmental Sustainability Engagement by the Australian Event Sector during a Pandemic Period

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Environmental Sustainability Engagement by the Australian Event Sector during a Pandemic Period

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