Unrecoverable cost test: why continue to assert that local events are a major validation criterion for a destination? The idea that local events drastically affect planning is a generalization that does not always match reality on the ground, especially here in Ivory Coast. If we had not already invested so much attention in this theory, would we emphasize it so much? For a wedding or a big celebration, the availability of an adequate venue and the total cost are much more important than a music festival. Often, the client has a fixed date, and it is up to me to work around events, not to let a football match dictate the destination choice.