Tourism and sports are interrelated and complementary. Sports, whether professional, amateur or recreational, require significant travel to play and compete in various venues and countries. Major athletic events, such as the World Cup, Olympic Games, football, and rugby championships, have become significant tourist attractions, making an outstanding contribution to the tourism image of the host destination.
Simplifying the Term
Sports tourism is easy to understand. Sports tourism is traveling from one location to another to be an audience member at a sports tournament. For example, one who goes from Chicago to Houston to witness the Houston Texans play is dubbed a “sports tourist.” However long or short the journey is, that does not define the tourist part. The determining aspect is whether or not the person is traveling to witness a sporting competition or is traveling for another objective. If one travels from Chicago to Houston to visit family but comes upon tickets to the Texans game, said individual is not labeled a sports tourist because the primary purpose was to visit family. There are numerous classifications of sport tourism.
Hard Sports Tourism
People who travel to take part in intensely competitive athletic events are engaged in an activity known as “hard sports tourism.” This list contains many significant events that regularly draw tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of attendees. The Super Bowl, the Tour de France, and the World Cup are three events that come to mind as examples.
Even though these are some of the most notable examples of hard sports tourism, this category includes various other, less significant events. Hard sports tourism would also include a local team taking a trip to another state to compete in a basketball tournament; even though this would only include a few dozen people as opposed to thousands, it would still be called complex sports tourism.
Soft Sports Tourism
The “soft” definition of sport tourism is when a tourist goes to join up for leisure interests or participate in recreational sporting activities. This is an example of a “soft” definition. The terms “hiking,” “skiing,” “running,” and “canoeing” all fall under the category of “soft sports tourism.” Regarding travel destinations in Europe and the United States, the game of golf is among the most typical examples of a soft sports tourist activity. While on a sport tourist, you can play NetBet Casino. Many people are interested in playing golf on some of the best and most highly-ranked courses in the world, and they feel a great sense of accomplishment when they can cross such locations off their bucket lists.
Sports Event Tourism
Tourism that revolves around an athletic competition is known as “sports event tourism.” The magnitude and significance of athletic events can vary widely; nonetheless, it is typically the larger, more significant sporting events that garner the most gravitas. The Olympic Games and the FIFA World Cup are two examples of iconic sporting events that serve as critical hubs for the sports event tourism industry and attract millions of visitors to the host location.
A national tennis tournament or the Henley Regatta in the UK are smaller events that could be considered examples of sports event tourism. Amateur athletic events powerfully illustrate a type of sports event tourism that is frequently ignored. A few examples of these tournaments are regional school championships, youth athletic leagues, and community-based sporting activities that are not run for profit.
Active Sports Tourism
When a person travels to participate in their chosen sport actively, this is an example of “active sports tourism.” Active sports tourism can also refer to situations in which a person travels for other reasons but takes part in sports as an essential part of their tourism experience. One can divide people participating in active sports tourism into three categories: amateur, hobbyist, and professional sports tourists.
It should come as no surprise that sports tourism is a lucrative business. There is a significant demand for tourists worldwide, and the sports tourism industry is no exception. This demand can be met through event sports tourism, active sports tourism, nostalgic sports tourism, or passive sports tourism.
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