Ecuador as a Destination for International Events: A Case Study of Oceanman in Manta

Ecuador is home to a plethora of valuable natural resources and is on the verge of becoming a hub for international sporting events. The local government officials in Ecuador understand the opportunities associated with hosting a wide array of medium-sized sporting events, especially as a means to boost tourism. Another local stakeholder, Sara Palacios, holder of the Triple Crown of Open Water Swimming and founder of the company Aguas Abiertas Ecuador (AAE), identified an opportunity to host open water competitions in Ecuador. The following case study explores the planning process of the first edition of the open water international competition, Oceanman, hosted in Manta, Ecuador, in 2021. The leading issue relates to the factors that influenced the event manager's decision-making process while planning the Oceanman in Manta. The researchers used semi-structured interviews while also analyzing traditional and social media information and the Oceanman franchise specifications. Local government officials identified the positive economic impact that sport events bring to a city. Additionally, Manta and its public administrators identified a great opportunity in supporting private organizations to organize big sporting events. To encourage private organizations to promote events in Manta, the Athletic Department created an effective and efficient process for collaboration.