Sport and event tourism is a growing global industry with important economic implications for both the sport, the event and the impact of travel and tourism related benefits on host destinations.
Discussions included amongst others the Role of Local Government in supporting events and one of the key outcomes was that cities must work on developing integrated sports tourism strategies sooner rather than later.
Major industry role players critically analysed the SASCOC Bidding & Hosting Strategy and it was agreed that SASCOC will champion the strategy going forward. With major international events being identified over the next 17 years, what becomes priority is the Commonwealth Games 2022.
Tubby Reddy, CEO of SASCOC, told SETE "We as an organisation are delighted to have concluded the bidding and hosting strategy document up to 2030 to fit in with national development plan. Therefore it gives us as a country a clear idea as to the events that we should be bidding for as an overall strategy."
Further discussions were held around the role of local Convention Bureaus and their current mandate of hosting meeting and events. This has to be re-assed to support sports events and tourism.
Discussions around the Tourism Business Council and their collection of levies from hotels to assist South Africa Tourism in promoting SA as a leisure destination, it was recommended that some levies had to be ring-fenced to cater for sports tourism.
The private sector was not let off the hook. It was repeatedly muted that this sector has to be engaged in partnering with sports federations and the industry from an investment point of view. There is a need for a sustainable approach to sports tourism and a closer relationship between federations and corporate sponsorship should be strengthened.
The challenges and opportunities that events present for the African continent was also a key factor of SETE 2013. The debate aimed at agreeing on key principles to formulate a Sports Tourism strategy for the African continent. Ministers of Tourism in the African Union are to be encouraged to look at Sport Tourism as a priority and our Minister of Tourism and Minister of Sport are the ideal experts to drive this issue in Africa.
The final outcome from all discussions was that there was an immediate need for a Sports Tourism Network to be established to drive sports events and tourism forward. Key players involved will represent the sports and tourism industries to lobby with key partners from the private sector as well.
The response from the international buyers has been very positive with real results so far.
Magnus Danielsson, vice president of International Motor Sport from Feld Entertainment USA, a global family entertainment company, commented on how delighted he was to be here at SETE.
"We are exploring the opportunity of bringing Monster Jam to South Africa. Our company is focusing on growing our international motor sports business and South Africa, and indeed Africa, will be a key market for us going forward. We have just hosted the Monster Jam event in Sydney Australia at the ANZ stadium where over 55,000 people attended and we would not expect anything less here in South Africa and we will target 3-5 cities potentially."
Owen Leed, Chief Revenue Officer, Total Sports Asia (TSA) told SETE "As a former Chief Marketing Officer of Tourism South Africa, I am acutely aware of what South Africa has to offer to the global sporting community in terms of infrastructure and facilities. It is Total Sports Asia's intention to bring to South Africa, three new events. One in cycling, which is an inner city short course Eliminator event, the second is to create a local Road to Glory, kick boxing league in order to deliver to the international Glory kickboxing series, South African fighters and finally, it is our intention to set a world water speed record from the northern tip of the Northern Cape to the Northern Tip of KZN, in a 3000 bhp twin engine Vector power boat in a way that the programme will highlight the beautiful coastline that South Africa has to offer to its tourism customers."
"On behalf of Thebe Exhibitions and projects we would like to thank all our partners for making this event a significant success. We are really encouraged that our international buyers are keen to bring some exciting events to South Africa and we are even more delighted that we will be bidding for the 2022 Commonwealth game," said Sugen Pillay, Business Development Director at Thebe Exhibitions and Projects.
The Sports and Events Tourism Exchange is hosted by the KwaZulu-Natal Department of Economic Development and Tourism, partnered by CATHSSETA, SASCOC, Tourism KZN and Durban Tourism, Tsogo Sun and supported by Durban KZN Convention Bureau and the exclusive broadcasting partner SABC.
