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Clearly, there are no absolute boundaries between the different categories that have been proposed in this framework. Just as Getz (1991a) suggested that the definition of a special event depended upon one’s perspective, so too is it suggested here that the demarcation between categories also tends to reflect one’s perspective. For example, an event that is held on an annual basis may be regarded as special in its first year because it is so different, but then be regarded as routine in subsequent years as the ‘newness’ wears off.

Based purely on a frequency analysis of the results presented in Table 2.2, the most important special event attributes are:

1. Attracting tourists or tourism development, 2. Being of limited duration,

3. Being a one-off or infrequent occurrence,

4. Raising the awareness, image or profile of a region, 5. Attracting media attention,

6. Having a large economic impact, 7. Being out of the ordinary or unique.

The last item on this list is a combination of two attributes that seem closely allied. Of course, this list should be viewed as indicative only, because it is derived from a judgment sample of publications and compiled on a simple ‘count of mentions’ basis. However, the literature search that underpinned Table 2.2 was both extensive and systematic. Many articles, which are not mentioned in the table, were found that discussed definitions of special events, but the discussion in these articles referred back to other articles that were already mentioned. It would be preferable to try to induce, logically, generalisations about special events

which could then be applied, hierarchically, to new events to assess their characterisation as ‘special’ events.

The identification of core attributes is an important step in establishing a definitional framework, where a core attribute of a special event is defined as an attribute that must be present if a phenomenon is to be classed as a special event. Before deciding whether the seven attributes listed above are what could be termed ‘core attributes’, it is worth making some other observations regarding the categories of special events that were referred to more frequently in Table 2.2 within each of these seven attributes. The first four attributes in this list included the full range of event categories whereas attributes five and six referred more frequently to hallmark and mega-events. It is interesting to note that although two attributes were combined as the seventh attribute in the above list, the categories of special events associated with the two separate attributes were quite different; ‘out of the ordinary’ was more frequently associated with special events, whilst ‘unique’ was more frequently associated with hallmark events.

Based on the data presented in Table 2.2, there were only two attributes that were associated more frequently with events, special events and festivals than they were with hallmark and mega-events. These two attributes were ‘having a theme’ and ‘involving a celebration’. There was, however, quite a number of attributes more frequently associated with hallmark and mega-events:

• Attracting large crowds,

• Involving prestige and status,

• Attracting funds to the region,

• Leaving behind legacies or urban renewal,

• Involving demand for related services,

• Being of a national or international scale,

• Incorporating festivals or other events,

• Involving tradition or symbolism,

• Involving a large cost,

The attribute ‘offering a social experience’ was associated with the full range of event categories.

Based on this analysis, therefore, the core attributes of special events are suggested to be:

1. Attracting tourists or tourism development, 2. Being of a limited duration,

3. Being a one-off or infrequent occurrence,

4. Raising the awareness, image or profile of a region, 5. Offering a social experience,

6. Being out of the ordinary.

Once a phenomenon has been accepted as a special event based on having demonstrated the presence of ‘core’ attributes, it can be further categorised by testing for the presence of ‘qualifying’ attributes. Based on the literature review conducted, the following qualifying attributes are proposed for the different categories:

For Festivals and Minor Special events. 1. Having a theme

2. Involving a celebration

For Major events (Hallmark and Mega). 1. Attracting media attention, 2. Attracting large crowds, 3. Involving prestige and status, 4. Attracting funds to the region,

5. Leaving behind legacies or urban renewal, 6. Involving demand for related services, 7. Being of a national or international scale, 8. Incorporating festivals or other events, 9. Involving tradition or symbolism, 10.Involving a large cost,

11.Being of a large scale.

Table 2.3 Special Event Core and Qualifying Attributes ATTRIBUTE SPECIAL EVENT FESTIVAL MAJOR EVENT HALLMARK EVENT MEGA- EVENT

Attracting tourists or tourism development.

CORE Being of a limited duration. CORE

Being a one-off or infrequent occurrence.

CORE Raising a region’s awareness,

image or profile.

CORE Offering a social experience. CORE

Being out of the ordinary. CORE Involving a public

celebration.

QUAL

Having a theme. QUAL

Attracting media attention. QUAL

Attracting large crowds. QUAL

Involving prestige and status. QUAL Attracting funds to the region. QUAL Leaving behind legacies or

urban renewal.

QUAL

Involving demand for related services. QUAL Being of a national or international scale. QUAL Incorporating festivals or other events. QUAL Involving tradition or symbolism. QUAL

Involving a large cost. QUAL

Being of a large scale. QUAL

Being an infrequent occurrence.

QUAL

Being tied to a specific place. QUAL

Being large in a relative sense only.

QUAL

Resulting in destination & event becoming synonymous.

QUAL

Being a one-off occurrence. QUAL