WSDE Sport Tourism Expo

Rugby’s Coming Home as Britain Scores Another Try for Tourism

2011-10-17T11:30:22+00:00

As rugby’s premier event reaches its finale, VisitBritain is ready to engage with the rugby world as England prepares to host the Rugby World Cup in 2015. The event will add to a blossoming £2.3 billion sports tourism industry which sees around 3 million overseas visitors each year enjoying some sort of sporting event in the UK.

Qatar Goes for Gold

2011-09-05T11:26:18+00:00

Qatar Buoyed by its successful World Cup bid, the country has begun to indulge a seemingly insatiable desire to host global sporting events. In August 2011 Qatar officially launched a bid to host the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics. It has submitted a bid for the 2017 World Athletic Championships, and has expressed interest in hosting the Grand D part for the 2016 Tour de France. This is all bolstered by Qatar’s sponsorship of a myriad of sports events and teams.

Pyeongchang announced as host of 2018 Winter Olympics

2011-07-07T09:55:54+00:00

Pyeongchang has been awarded the right to host the 2018 Winter Olympics following a vote in Durban, South Africa. Bidding for the third consecutive time, after being defeated in competitions for the 2010 and 2014 Games, the South Korean city beat rivals Annecy and Munich in Germany. Annecy, in France, had been considered the outsider going into the vote, while Pyeongchang had been expected to take the prize. Munich has hoped to become the first city to host both a summer and winter Games. The Bavarian capital staged the summer Olympics in 1972. A total of 95 International Olympic Committee (IOC) delegates cast their votes during the ballot.

Thailand tourism arrivals surge 25 percent

2011-06-27T11:14:12+00:00

International visitor arrivals to Thailand surged 24.4 percent to 8.2 million in the first five months of the year, according to new figures from the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT).

Jumeirah ambassador Rory McIlroy wins US Open title

2011-06-27T10:32:24+00:00

Jumeirah Group, the Dubai-based luxury hotel company and member of Dubai Holding, celebrates the victory of its global brand ambassador, golfer Rory McIlroy, in the US Open at the Congressional Country Club, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.

London 2012 Olympics torch relay showcases the whole of the UK

2011-05-18T10:46:09+00:00

The 8,000-mile route for the London 2012 Olympics torch relay route has been revealed, and will cover every nation and region in the UK and includes island visits. A search for 8,000 “inspirational torchbearers” also begins today, the London Organising Committee of the Olympic and Paralympic Games (Locog) said. The torch will leave Land’s End, Cornwall, on the morning of Saturday 19 May 2012 - the day after it arrives in the UK from Greece.

France wins right to host 2018 Ryder Cup and expects boost in Golf Tourism

2011-05-18T09:29:56+00:00

France has won the rights to host the 2018 Ryder Cup, the first time the tournament will be held in the country. The 42nd edition of the biennial match will be staged at Le Golf National in Versailles, just outside Paris, which has been the venue for 18 of the last 20 French Open tournaments. The victory comes despite a late surge by the Spanish bidding team for the tournament to be staged in Madrid following the recent death of Severiano Ballesteros, who had been campaigning for to be played in his homeland for the second time.

Thailand’s growing power as a Sport Tourism destination

2011-05-17T13:47:04+00:00

Thailand’s growing power as a Sport Tourism destination will be on show at this week’s WTTC Global Travel and Tourism Summit in Las Vegas. WSDE looks at how the Land of Smiles is tapping into the fastest growing sector of travel.

Travellers tap into Malaysia’s sport tourism

2011-04-14T08:55:54+00:00

As travellers are seeking increasingly active holidays, sport tourism has become a key driver for Malaysia’s booming RM55 billion tourism industry, which recorded 24.6 million visitors in 2010.

Australia in sport tourism drive

2011-04-13T08:37:23+00:00

Australia has highlighted the power of sport tourism as integral to its tourism industry, led by events such as the Formula 1 Grand Prix. BTN takes a closer look at how the nation is harnessing sport to attract a global audience.

DESTINATION PROFILE: Korea - An Asian hub for Sport Tourism

2011-02-25T13:45:32+00:00

Being 70% mountainous Korea’s topography sets it out as an amazing sport tourism Mecca. The peninsulas coastline has a plethora of islands and islets, the biggest of which is ‘Jeju’, a semi-tropical island off the south coast, formed by the ancient exploits of an underwater volcano. Added to which, Korea is the 15th biggest economy in the world and already an ‘old head on young shoulders’ when it comes to hosting the world’s biggest sporting events.

Thailand and Malaysia to Co-Host 2012 ASEAN Football Federation Suzuki Cup

2011-02-21T10:03:18+00:00

It has been announced that the group stages of the 2012 ASEAN Football Federation (AFF) Suzuki Cup will be co-hosted by Thailand and Malaysia

Sports Revolution Partner with WSDE Sport Tourism Expo 2011

2011-02-14T20:00:11+00:00

Sports Revolution the largest media rights owner in UK football stadia advertising sign Partnership agreement with WSDE Sport Tourism Expo 2011, “We are delighted to announce this partnership and it further emphasises the importance and relevance of the convergence of Sports and Tourism” said WSDE Director Tony Prince. Kye Punter (Head of Trading Sports Revolution) states, “We see this partnership as a great opportunity to increase our growing portfolio for companies associated with, or in the travel industry wanting to build their brands through the power of sport”.

DESTINATION PROFILE: Rio de Janeiro

2011-01-24T20:03:33+00:00

With preparations for the 2014 FIFA World Cup and 2016 Olympics progressing to plan, Rio de Janeiro is a city riding the crest of a Sport Tourism wave. In the 2nd of our Destination Profiles, WSDE looks at why the “Cidade Maravilhosa” has become the most popular tourist attraction in the southern hemisphere.

WSDE Sport Tourism Expo 2011 and iSC announce Social Media Partnership

2011-01-18T20:05:46+00:00

Sports business portal iSportconnect.com has agreed a social media partnership with WSDE Sport Tourism Expo 2011 which will be held in Bangkok, Thailand - Asia’s Sport Tourism Gateway - from 27th – 29th September 2011.. iSportconnect.com combines social networking, the latest sports business news as well as events and jobs listings. Bringing together sports professionals, iSportconnect.com provides a community where all the essential components of the industry can be found and utilised. The platform will act as a virtual meeting room, so that Expo participants can interact before, during and after the event in a secured way, thanks to the site’s Strict Door Policy. WSDE’s own community group will feature event-related news updates, interviews and multimedia enabled features. The event page will facilitate a great level of communication for both Event participants and enthusiasts.

Destination Profile: Qatar

2011-01-03T20:07:29+00:00

As Qatar steps up to become the first Arab nation to host the World Cup, the next decade provides a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Middle East to narrow the Sport Tourism gap with the West. But what does the tiny nation need to do in order to host the world’s largest sporting spectacle?

Qatar’s Success Set to Boost Gulf Region

2010-12-19T10:30:25+00:00

The 2022 FIFA World Cup will provide an economic boost to not just Qatar but the entire region, according to a new report by the National Bank of Kuwait.

Hilton Vilamoura launches classic golf tournament

2010-12-13T13:39:57+00:00

Hot on the back of winning “Portugal’s Leading Golf Resort” at the 2010 World Travel Awards, Hilton Vilamoura is boosting its Sport Tourism credentials yet further with the announcment that it will host the inaugural Hilton Vilamoura Golf Classic.

Thailand’s Minister of Tourism and Sports Raises Countries Sport Tourism Stakes

2010-11-30T13:39:54+00:00

The Sport Tourism stakes on the paradise island of Phuket have been raised even higher following the opening of Westin Siray Bay Resort and Spa.

Thailand gears up for Sport Tourism boom

2010-11-22T10:50:51+00:00

With double-digit growth in foreign visitors expected in 2010, Thailand has not only proved but its incredible resilience but a forward-thinking attitude towards developing new markets, and Sport Tourism in particular. BTN reports.