The Role of Sports Tourism in Shaping Generation Z's Settlement Intentions: A Narrative Literature Review

Abstract

Global demographic aging and the migration of younger generations to large metropolitan centers have led to population imbalances that challenge the sustainable development of small and medium-sized cities. As cities search for innovative pathways to attract and retain younger residents, the integration of sports and tourism particularly through participatory sports event tourism has gained momentum as a viable urban revitalization strategy. This narrative review synthesizes the existing literature to explore how participatory event tourism influences Generation Z's settlement intentions through the Cognition-Affective-Conation (C-A-C) theoretical lens. It examines key mediating variables service quality, perceived city image, perceived value, city identity, and sense of belonging drawing on research from tourism management, urban studies, and psychology. The review highlights theoretical fragmentation and the lack of generationally focused studies linking event experiences to long-term behavioral outcomes such as settlement. It argues that participatory sports events can function as catalysts for urban attachment and youth retention when managed with attention to service quality and emotional engagement. Finally, it proposes a conceptual basis for future empirical research using structural equation modeling to validate the cognitive-affective-conative mechanisms driving settlement behavior in participatory event contexts.