You’re a sports fanatic. You’ve been to every game, and you know the players’ names as well as their stats. You’ve got your own team jersey, and you wear it with pride as you visit the best online casino.
Estadio 11 Novembre – National football stadium in Luanda, Angola
If you’re a sports fan, you’ve definitely thought about sports tourism, or you have, or you’ve heard about it.
Sports tourism is on the rise and is growing at a fast rate. According to the United Nations world tourism organization, sports tourism is a multimillion-dollar sector. Continue reading to find out.
What Is Sports Tourism?
When you combine your love for sports and travel, what do you get? You guessed it: sports tourism. It’s all about combining your love for sports and travel.
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You can do it by attending a big event like the World Cup. Or you can go on a vacation that focuses on the history of sports (like visiting sports museums).
Sports tourism can be defined as any travel or activity that involves a spectator traveling to an event, either in person or virtually. Sports tourism is not limited to just watching the games but a wide variety of activities that may include events, museums, shopping, and more.
Sports tourism is popular because it provides an opportunity to explore new destinations while participating in one’s favorite pastime.
What Does the United Nations World Tourism Organization Think of Sports Tourism?
The United Nations World Tourism Organization recognizes that sports tourism has become one of the biggest forms of travel in recent years.
In fact, according to their research, over 20% of people who take an international trip also participate in some sort of sport while they’re abroad.
It’s no wonder UNTWO is encouraging more countries around the world to invest in sporting facilities. So they can attract tourists from other nations who want to see what their country has to offer when it comes to sports.
They predict sports tourism to be worth $100 billion by 2026—and that number’s only going up.
Why Is Sports Tourism Important?
Sports tourism has many benefits for both the visitor and the host city.
Jobs, Economic Growth, and Cultural Exchange
Sports tourism creates jobs and economic growth in both local communities and across entire countries.
Sports events also help boost local economies by providing opportunities for job creation and attracting visitors from around the world who will spend money on hotels, food, transportation, and other goods and services once they get there.
Also, athlete training camp staff, security guards, etc.
The creation of these jobs contributes to economic growth. They provide income for individuals who otherwise may not have had it before.
Major events like the Olympics or World Cup have shown us time and again that hosting these types of sporting events can have long-lasting impacts on cities for years to come, which is why so many cities vie for these opportunities every four years.
More than half of those who attend major sporting events are local residents. This means that they are supporting their local economy by staying in hotels, eating at restaurants, and shopping at local stores during their stay.
Sports tourism gives visitors an opportunity to experience different cultures by interacting with locals who come out in droves to watch major sporting events.
For example, at Wimbledon, the Super Bowl, or native cultural events like Haryana, India, where you will get to enjoy kho kho and wrestling in gullies.
Where Is Sports Tourism Common?
Sports tourism is common in countries or states that host national events such as the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, Little League World Series baseball tournaments, cricket tournaments, Formula One competitions, the Superbowl, and the Olympics. Basically, all sports at national and international levels.
Conclusion
Now you know everything there is to know about sports tourism. The best thing you can do is to grab your passport and catch the next flight to a destination hosting your international sport of choice. This way, you can enjoy the game and promote sports tourism.
Sports tourism is when a sports fan travels for a game. It’s beneficial in many ways, including creating employment, economic growth, and cultural exchange.
Sports tourism is common locally, nationally, and internationally in places where they host major sports tournaments and competitions like the World cup and Olympics.