In addition to the global travel craze sparked by American pop icon Taylor Swift’s world tour, there is also a rising trend of sports tourism nowadays, encouraging people to travel far and wide. So, what is sports tourism? What are its advantages and disadvantages?
According to a report by The Huffington Post, experts in the tourism industry have explained what sports tourism is and analyzed its pros and cons.
Carolyn Addison, the product director of the New York travel agency “Black Tomato,” stated that sports tourism involves traveling related to specific sports events, often to attend and watch, but also includes participating in the events.
Addison gave examples such as the Olympics, Formula One racing, and the Tour de France.
Sports tourism sometimes simply entails traveling to another city during the season to cheer for one’s favorite team or to participate in a sports competition like a marathon.
Nate Hardesty, the managing director of two hotels in Texas, mentioned that sports tourism encompasses events from youth sports to professional league matches. For instance, many families travel nationwide to watch college or professional games, making it a routine activity for them in spring or summer.
He noted that many fans follow their favorite teams across the country for games and use the opportunity to explore those places. Some people enjoy combining their love for travel and sports.
While traveling for sports events is not a new phenomenon, the COVID-19 pandemic forced people to stay at home, leading to a surge in interest for such activities after the pandemic.
Hardesty said, “Traveling for sports has been a long-standing practice, but experiential travel like this has significantly increased post-pandemic.”
Addison mentioned that sports events give people a purpose for planning their trips and allow them to interact with locals in a spontaneous and natural way.
She highlighted the vibrant energy displayed by audiences at major events and the opportunity to connect with like-minded individuals. Sports tourism may take you to exciting places you wouldn’t otherwise visit if not for the sports events.
Nikki Glass, the general manager of a hotel in California, mentioned that sports tourism can create a comprehensive travel experience. Many sports tourism destinations strive to enhance the experience for fans by adding various attractions and gifts related to sports events, offering fans a multi-dimensional travel experience.
She said that travelers engaging in sports tourism tend to extend their stays in destinations to explore local cultural amenities, urban environments, restaurants, museums, and green spaces. These tourists fully immerse themselves in these experiences.
Addison pointed out that there are additional challenges in planning sports tourism trips. Crowds and congested traffic can make the overall travel experience less enjoyable, and accommodation costs may be higher.
She emphasized the importance of advance planning to secure hotel rooms, flights, and sports event tickets.
Lisa Bush, the marketing director of a hotel in Tennessee, echoed Addison’s remarks, saying that sometimes it can be challenging to book hotel rooms, flights, and sports event tickets, and booking early ensures getting the best deals. Last-minute bookers often regret their decisions.
Furthermore, when engaging in sports tourism, you may find yourself in overcrowded places that may not have the capacity to accommodate so many people under normal circumstances. You may have to make extra effort to have an authentic local travel experience during this period.