Profile, behavior, and impacts of visitors to WRC Paraguay 2025 in Itapúa within sports tourism in Latin America
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- Silvia Liliana Amarilla+−
- Natalia Elizabeth Kazmirchuk Kuruz+−
- Eduarda Susana Lugo Rolón+−
- Vicente Eligio Núñez Velázquez+−
- Yessica María Digna Cuquejo Verón+−
- Juan Carlos Miranda+−
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17979/rotur.2026.20.2.13275Abstract
Motor sports have evolved from a recreational activity into a global phenomenon with impacts on innovation, the economy, and tourism. Paraguay’s inclusion in the official calendar of the World Rally Championship (WRC) in 2025 marked the country’s first experience as a host of an international motorsports competition. Given the scarcity of empirical research in Latin America on sports tourism, this study analyzed the profile, behavior, and perceptions of visitors to the 2025 WRC Paraguay event in the department of Itapúa. An exploratory quantitative design was employed using structured surveys administered to 2,000 attendees, selected through stratified probability sampling, excluding residents of Itapúa to focus the analysis on tourists and day-trippers. Variables related to trip planning, transportation, accommodations, spending, and perceptions of the event and the destination were surveyed. The results show that the audience consisted mainly of Paraguayans and visitors from Argentina and Brazil, with an average stay of five nights and an estimated daily expenditure of $285 per person. The overall perception of the event was positive, with hospitality, safety, and organization standing out, although opportunities for improvement were identified in accessibility, connectivity, and service costs. This study represents the first systematic examination of sports tourism in Paraguay and provides empirical evidence on the economic and social impact of the WRC in emerging contexts, contributing to the international understanding of large-scale motorsports events and offering strategic insights for planning future editions.
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