Tourism and its related products have received increasing attention within many communities as a viable addition or replacement to some traditional industries which might have downsized, or ceased to exist. Much of the acceptance is based on the professed ability to produce economic, social and image related benefits for a community/region. Within the tourism industry, special events have emerged as a distinct product, gaining recognition and funding from a variety of stakeholders. The current problem for strategic planners and organisers involves the lack of a comprehensive supply side database. Such a database would enable stakeholders to evaluate the industry at a macro scale, but simultaneously allow region specific
information to be analysed. This thesis seeks to redress the current lack of baseline information available.