The term ‘event(s) tourism’ was not widely used, if at all,
prior to 1987 when The New Zealand Tourist and Publicity
Department (1987) reported: ‘‘Event tourism is an
important and rapidly growing segment of international
tourismy’’. An article by Getz in 1989 in Tourism
Management (‘Special Events: Defining the Product’)
developed a framework for planning ‘events tourism’.
Prior to this it was normal to speak of special events,
hallmark events, mega events and specific types of events.
Now ‘event tourism’ is generally recognized as being
inclusive of all planned events in an integrated approach
to development and marketing.