Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Philippines Sports Tourism Strategy 2007
Philippines Sports Tourism Strategy 2007
Need for a
National Sports Tourism Strategy
by Virgilio ‘Beeyong’ Sison
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary 4
Appendices
FIGURES
Bibliography 67
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A Call to Our Leaders!
Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, and it goes hand-in-hand with sports
and recreation. This area combines travel, service, entertainment and wellness. By
merging both activities, Sports Tourism has now become the fastest growing sector
world-wide. The World Tourism Organization (WTO) predicts that Sports Tourism will be
the second most important travel segment by 2020. Also, Sports Tourism will be the
one to show enormous potential for further development based on any study conducted
that will identify and develop a full-range of “niche” tourism products looking to
promote strong future growth and diversification of the tourism industry. The need for
a planned and consistent approach to building a sustainable base for the Sports
Tourism sector is imperative and the development of a National Sports Tourism
Strategy must immediately get underway.
With 842 million arrivals and a 4.5% growth rate in 2006, the tourism sector industry is
raking-in world-wide receipts amounting to trillions of dollars (WTO, 2006). Combine
this with an estimated $500 billion-plus industry from the world of sports
(sportsbusiness.com 2006), the Sports Tourism sector is fast-becoming a major
industry player which cannot be ignored by the Philippine government.
The aim is to facilitate a viable and internationally competitive Sports Tourism industry
and to ensure that the benefits of this niche market are maximized and spread widely
throughout Philippines. The strategy can identify opportunities for the development of
the Sport Tourism sector as well as identifying constraints to the growth of the
industry. The key elements of the strategy can be a range of actions which can help
formulate a strategy:
Sports Tourism is any activity in which people are attracted to a particular location
as a sport event participant, an event spectator, or to attend sport attractions or
business meetings;
Sport Tourism creates new revenue streams and resources for local event
organizers, sports friendly businesses and sport in general; and
Sport Tourism is a multi- billion dollar a year industry.
Estimates of the size of the sport tourism sector vary, mainly because there is no
single, agreed definition of what constitutes “Sport tourism”. While definitions of
tourism are well accepted and fairly consistent throughout the world, definitions of
sport tourism range from narrow ones involving travel solely for participation in
competitive sporting activity to broader definitions where the “sporting” activity
might be more leisure or adventure activity incidental to the main purpose of
travel.
Sports scholars have long debated the definition of sport. Is sport confined to
competitive activities with set rules governing the style and field of play? Does
sport include non-competitive, more freely structured physical activities? Should
business travel be included in a definition of Sports Tourism? If so, are professional
athletes traveling to away games appropriately considered to be sport-tourists?
After all, just like conference attendees and corporate business travelers,
professional athletes contribute to host communities in terms of hotel room nights,
food and so forth. Or should the fact that professional athletes are being paid to
take part in sport (and therefore are not leisure travelers)
The World Tourism Organization came out with a relatively limited working
definition which have been used by the industry for several years. The sport or a
sporting activity which under this definition are organized activities.
Unstructured activities undertaken by individuals have been excluded as the
ability to influence such activities is fairly limited. (WTO 2005, Tourism Market
Trends) It is:
The exceptional growth of tourism over the last 50 years is one of the most remarkable
economic and social phenomena of the 20th century. As stated earlier, the number of
international arrivals shows an evolution from a mere 25 million arrivals in 1950 to the
698 million of 2000. That represents an average annual growth rate of more than 7%
over a period of 50 years - well above the average annual economic growth rate for the
same period. Tourism has clearly outperformed all the other sectors of the economy
and has grown into the most significant economic activity in the world. Annual
international arrivals are expected to surpass one billion by the year 2010 and reach
1.6 billion by the year 2020. (UNWTO Report 2006) Reasons for this sustained growth
include greater disposable income in tourism generating countries, and, especially in
some of the emerging economies of Asia, more leisure time, earlier retirement,
Sports are big business. Combined world-wide leagues in Soccer, Basketball, Football,
Baseball bring in about $12 billion in annual revenue, but that’s just the tip of the
iceberg. In the United States alone, sporting equipment sales at retail are roughly $43
billion yearly, sports apparel $43 billion and athletic footwear $18 billion. A reasonable
estimate of the total U.S. sports market might be $375 to $425 billion yearly. To put
that in perspective, the U.S. retail food industry, including supermarkets, is only
slightly bigger. However, the sports industry is so complex, from ticket sales to licensed
products, from sports video games to collectibles, from sporting goods, sports-related
advertising, endorsement income, stadium naming fees and running shoes to facilities
income, that it’s difficult to put an all-encompassing figure on annual revenue.
Tourism On the Rise: According to the World Tourism Organization forecast China will
be producing 100 million outbound tourists by 2020. This outbound market has been
growing extremely fast: it leapt from 20 million in 2003 to some 31 million in 2005.This
figure includes all outbound travel from the Chinese mainland, including trips to Hong
Kong and Macau. In 2005, 71% of all Chinese outbound visitors were to these two
areas. Chinese outbound travelers spent a total of US$ 21.8 billion abroad in 2005, up
from US$ 19.1 billion in 2004 (+14%). But, it might be a challenge to turn the Chinese
outbound market into a profitable one. Price competition is fierce, driven in many cases
by the short lead time (65% of all bookings are made in Europe 2-4 weeks prior to
arrival). However, it is known that Chinese travelers spend a lot on shopping. France,
Italy, UK and Germany are some of the destinations with the greatest appeal. Shopping
‘scenery’ and customs are valued most as selling propositions.
Sports Industry Potential: Once neglected, the leisure sports industry is now booming
for a nation that has never held global sports meets on the scale of the Olympic
Games. To most Chinese, sports are leisure activities which are a way to improve
health and for a long time, Chinese have regarded sports as mainly the pursuit of an
ideal, a way to win honor for the country. However, now that the Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games are nearing, a new economic thrust is emerging in China in the form of leisure
sports. Sports now play an important role in the economy. In 2003, China's GDP
reached 1,400 billion USD. This was a record year for China's economic development,
because the country realized the goal of GDP 1,000 USD per person. In recent years,
some regions of China, especially the more developed ones, have been experiencing
the benefits of the growth of the leisure sports industry. This industry does not confine
itself only to the stadiums and sports fields. Sporting goods and sports-related travel as
well as the fast-growing number of gyms in cities all combine to form a big leisure
sports industry.
The hosting of the 2005 South East Asian Games provided the Philippines with a unique
learning opportunity. Although we were able to showcase the Philippines to our Asian
neighbors and the world, both as a tourism destination and as a country with the ability
to compete in skills by winning the overall championships, the 2005 games experience
left us with much to be desired in terms of infrastructure like world-class sports
venues, athletic dorms/hostels, transport services, organizational expertise in the
sports industry. The challenge for Sports Tourism development is to take advantage of
all the opportunities this presents. The Philippines can have many competitive
Coordination of Industry
The fact that most events are organized by sporting bodies as sporting events first and
foremost with tourism almost an optional extra can already represent failure of the
market. Sporting bodies arguably have little incentive to pursue the tourism benefits
which can flow from sporting activities, especially sporting events, because they
themselves cannot directly capture many of those benefits. Sporting activities in the
country, especially events, have historically been organized by sporting organizations
for purely sporting purposes. Maximizing the tourism potential of the events has never
been a major consideration for the organizer, representing a potential failure of the
market. Many sporting organizations rely on volunteers, and may not have a well
developed business or organizational skills or experience to sustain events regularly.
These are lost tourism opportunities.
A major linkage must be established between sports and tourism groups at all levels –
national, regional, provincial. The creation of a combined sports and tourism
organization would be particularly useful for the pooling of knowledge relevant to these
two fields. Further collaboration in research and knowledge transfer would certainly pay
dividends. An economic evaluation of the contribution of tourism and sports to
development is a research topic that deserves urgent attention. I believe this is the
right time for such an initiative. Cooperation-coordination in this field will be mutually
beneficial.
Infrastructure
Most if not all sporting activities and events rely on having appropriate infrastructure in
place. The most obvious form of infrastructure is the sporting facilities themselves. A
starting point in addressing these issues would be to conduct facilities audits to identify
what sporting facilities and at what standard, are available. A further logical step down
this track would be to conduct a broader “asset audit” of all relevant infrastructure, to
assist organizers in assessing the ability of a region to support a particular sporting
activity or event. A strategic approach which considers the adequacy and availability of
all relevant facility needs to be adopted when planning sporting events and activities.
Education and training is critical to the success of both the sports and tourism sectors.
For sport tourism, the issue of education and training is especially important in
ensuring that sporting bodies in particular have the required business skills both to run
successful events and to recognize and take advantage of the tourism opportunities
which accompany the hosting of events. Training in this area is still not readily
available in the country. A high level of business expertise and management skill is
critical if the Sport Tourism sector is to successfully meet the needs of the increasingly
Sport Tourism consumer. The development of Sport Tourism will demand for
appropriate and accessible education and training, particularly in the area of
management, where many not-for-profit sporting organizations rely on part-time staff
or volunteers. Tourism organizations would benefit from greater awareness of sport
tourism opportunities and some education and training to enable them to maximize the
tourism potential of sporting events and activities.
Research must be conducted which will focus on the overall understanding of the sport
tourism market and how it can operate at a national or regional level. Focusing on
individual events must be avoided. The first step in data collection for the Sport
Tourism sector is the establishment of a uniform set of standard definitions for Sport
Tourism. The adoption of standard definitions provides the opportunity for various
researchers to produce data which has comparability across the sport tourism sector.
An extensive range of agreed definitions should be developed, allowing researchers to
choose those required for specific data sets while retaining commonality.
Evaluation of Events
A basic evaluation of the 2005 South East Asian Games held in numerous parts of the
country can be a start. Governments lend their support to events on the basis of
decisions made regarding benefits and costs ranging from financial to social and
cultural aspects. Such events may have the capacity to create income and employment
in the short term and generate increased visitation and related investment in the longer
term. Determining the value of sporting events has been a perennially difficult issue for
governments to resolve. There are no standard criteria for evaluating the economic
significance of staging events. A comprehensive criteria for evaluating publicly funded
sport and tourism events can be approached both to the assessment of economic
impact and tangible cultural and social impacts.
Implementation
The proposals contained in this strategy will require the concerted efforts of a range of
organizations if they are to be successfully implemented and if the Sport Tourism
sector is to achieve its full potential. Those organizations include governments at all
levels, the tourism industry, the sports sector including sporting organizations and
researchers. A key theme of the strategy is the need for coordination between what is
a very diverse range of stakeholders involved in the sports and tourism sectors.
Communication and coordination, especially between sporting groups and the tourism
sector, will be the key to maximizing the tourism potential of sporting activities and
events. Representatives of key stakeholders across industry and government, and
could play a significant role in:
Raising the level of awareness about the Sport Tourism sector within both industry
and government;
Identifying and pursuing specific research needs and priorities;
Identifying and overseeing the role of any facilitation unit which might be
established following the release of this strategy; and
Overseeing and reporting on progress in implementing the strategy.
Today’s tourism would be unthinkable without sports. Sports events cannot take place
without some kind of tourism support. They usually depend on a tourism destination.
Clearly, the Sports Tourism industry in the Philippines has enormous potential. A
development initiative focusing on Sports Tourism can yield enormous gains including
strong inbound tourism growth, sports and tourism infrastructure. There are
considerable economic, sport and community benefits to be gained through developing
the niche market that is sport tourism. Community sport tourism can lead to improved
sport development, enhanced community pride, and more active populations. Perhaps
it may also help cure social ills such as addiction in drugs, sex and illegal gambling
“jueteng”, alcoholism and depression which are caused by lack of participation and
direction. People will immediately feel the impact of the economic gains made by our
government once they see concrete activities happening in their daily lives.
When the positive aspects of Sports Tourism are maximized, it is a powerful and cost-
effective way of supporting a range of development and peace objectives. The time is
ripe for our leaders to realize the full potential of Sports Tourism as a viable and
practical tool for national development. General recommendations are as follows:
1. Sports Tourism in the development agenda: Calls for the incorporation of Sports
Tourism activity into the development policies of local governments as well as the
development agendas of national development agencies.
5. Communication: Seek new and innovative ways to use Sports Tourism for
communication and social mobilization, particularly at the national, regional and local
levels, engaging civil society through active participation and ensuring that target
audiences are reached.
CHAPTER A
1. PURPOSE
The purpose of this paper is to provide the reader with the basic information
about sports-tourism and to point out the prominence of the concept of sports-
tourism as an increasingly popular tourism product in the last ten years and
where it stands in 2007. A General Guideline strategy is provided to illicit
comments and suggestions that can then be collated and eventually form the
basis of a common national strategy.
2. RATIONALE
Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, and it goes hand-in-hand with
sports and recreation. This area combines travel, service, entertainment and
wellness. By merging both activities, Sports-Tourism has now become the
fastest growing sector world-wide. The World Tourism Organization (WTO)
predicts that Sports Tourism will be the second most important travel segment
by 2020. Also, Sports Tourism will be the one to show enormous potential for
further development based on any study conducted that will identify and
develop a full-range of “niche” tourism products looking to promote strong
future growth and diversification of the tourism industry. The need for a planned
and consistent approach to building a sustainable base for the Sport Tourism
sector is imperative and the development of a national Sport Tourism strategy
must immediately get underway.
Sports Tourism creates new revenue streams and resources for local event
organizers, sports friendly businesses and sport in general; and
Sports Tourism is a multi- billion dollar a year industry.
With 842 million arrivals and a 4.5% growth rate in 2006, the tourism sector
industry is raking in world-wide receipts amounting to trillions of dollars (WTO,
2006). Combine this with an estimated $500 billion-plus industry from the world
of sports (sportsbusiness.com 2006), the Sports Tourism sector is fast-
becoming a major industry player which cannot be ignored by the Philippine
government. Many countries have recently created sub-ministries and
departments under their respective tourism authorities to focus more in
servicing a market which boomed in the last 10 years. Tourism Authority of
Thailand, for example, with over 13.76 million tourists last year pouring in
US$19.5 billion, created a sub-ministry in 2002 called the Ministry of Tourism
and Sports to help facilitate increasing demands from sports travelers
demanding more sports-leisure venues and activities. This decision came about
after learning that over 25% of their receipts came from Sport-tourists. Now,
the emphasis of their current tourism policy is "to attract high end, quality
tourists who want to learn about Thai life without destroying natural resources."
(Tourism Authority of Thailand. 2007)
Forecast growth, especially for inbound tourism, is very strong. Similarly, the
Sports sector can contribute to a major economic impact which can generate
billions of dollars to the economy while employing millions of Filipinos.
Furthermore, Sports occupies a central place within Philippine culture and
identity dating back when education and sports was first introduced by the
United States in 1902. Philippines have a natural advantage in this niche market
given our strong international image as a hospitable, friendly and functionally-
talented people. This reputation has recently been confirmed based on our
performance during the 2005 South East Asian Games.
The hosting of the 2005 Games is undeniably a defining moment for Sports
Tourism in the Philippines and has the potential to bring significant on-going
benefits to the Philippine tourism sector. While big events such as these are
definitely not the “bread and butter” of Sports Tourism, the recent Games
taught us many lessons in organizing, promotion, infrastructure awareness on
the tourism benefits of such magnitude in sporting events. We were not
prepared due to our decades-old venues and facilities, or lack of coordination,
but now we can take this an opportunity to get to the next level by merging
both sports and the tourism sectors. We need to ensure that the Philippines can
obtain every possible advantage from hosting this one-off special event, in order
to build a more sustainable base for the long-term future viability of the Sports
Tourism sector in Philippines. Sport Tourism which is associated with sporting
activity has the potential to develop into a highly significant niche sector which
provides Philippines with economic and social benefits.
Sports Tourism has double benefits. It brings foreign players, sports fan tourists
while promoting the destination extensively in international market. However,
one very important thing we should not forget is that Sports Tourism means
mass participation. The recreational planning and management of Sports
Tourism can be carried out carefully taking into consideration three equally
important factors - economic, environment and socio-culture concerns. While
organizing sports events in fragile areas, these three cardinal factors including
maintenance of traditional values in a diversified culture such as our land will
have to be taken care of in order to sustain tourism in the country.
- General Guidelines
The exceptional growth of tourism over the last 50 years is one of the most
remarkable economic and social phenomena of the 20th century. As stated
earlier, the number of international arrivals shows an evolution from a mere 25
million arrivals in 1950 to the 698 million of 2000. That represents an average
annual growth rate of more than 7% over a period of 50 years - well above the
average annual economic growth rate for the same period. Tourism has clearly
outperformed all the other sectors of the economy and has grown into the most
significant economic activity in the world. Annual international arrivals are
expected to surpass one billion by the year 2010 and reach 1.6 billion by the
year 2020. (UNWTO Report 2006)
Reasons for this sustained growth include greater disposable income in tourism
generating countries, and, especially in some of the emerging economies of
Asia, more leisure time, earlier retirement, improvements in infrastructure and
transportation, and changes in consumer spending preferences. The size and
impact of the Tourism Industry today is indicated by WTO statistics:
Sports and active recreation have become very large and successful industries
worldwide. A European Commission Report on the European Community and
Sports estimated that the Sports industry is responsible for 2.5 per cent of world
trade. The factors influencing the growth of Sports and recreation are similar to
those influencing tourism growth - notably increased disposable income, greater
availability of leisure time and changing consumer preferences. An increased
awareness of the benefits for all ages of greater physical activity has also been
important.
The role of the media in promoting Sports has been critical. A number of factors
have contributed to this greater international media attention on world-wide
Sports and recreation, especially in western economies: (WTO Report 2006)
Tennis was a booming leisure activity in the U.S. for many years, but its
popularity has diminished greatly in recent years, particularly among casual
players. The number of people playing golf is dropping. The Sporting Goods
Manufacturers Association (SGMA) reports that the highest increases in
participation for 2004-2005 were in the sports of, surfing, mountain biking,
yoga/tai chi, artificial wall climbing, indoor soccer, jet skiing and kayaking.
Then there’s the fact that large audiences have been watching high-stakes
poker tournaments on television recently. Does that qualify as sports
broadcasting? Based on our definitions (see page 22, “patterns in games”), it’s
certainly a game. Thanks to the Internet, fantasy sports teams and online
betting on sports events are soaring. Finally, evolving technologies and fashions
have an immense impact on sales of sporting goods within specific sectors.
Sporting goods makers are constantly trying to create reasons for consumers to
buy new equipment introducing new fashions, new colors and new styles yearly
Modern tourism in China sprang up in the early 1950s. In 1954, the China
International Travel Service was established, with 14 branches in Guangzhou,
Shanghai, Beijing and other major cities. In 1964, the State Tourism
Administration of China was formally established. Since the initiation of the
policies of reform and opening to the outside world in 1978, China’s tourism has
entered a stage of rapid development. China, with a population of roughly 1.3
billion people, is undergoing a sustained economic growth of 9% per year. This
has transformed the world market for raw materials and the supply of consumer
goods. With 20% of the world’s population now becoming part of the global
economy, tourism destinations have rushed to sign “Approved Destination
Status” (ADS) agreements with the Chinese authorities that allow them to
receive Chinese leisure tourist travel groups. In Japan, the tourists followed the
export of manufactured goods throughout the sixties and seventies. The hope is
that China will, in this respect, mimic Japan, but with twelve times as many
people.-(China-Internet-Information-Center:-http://www.china.org.cn)
Chinese outbound travelers spent a total of US$ 21.8 billion abroad in 2005,
up from US$ 19.1 billion in 2004 (+14%). But, it might be a challenge to turn
the Chinese outbound market into a profitable one. Price competition is fierce,
driven in many cases by the short lead time (65% of all bookings are made in
Europe 2-4 weeks prior to arrival). However, it is known that Chinese travelers
spend a lot on shopping. France, Italy, UK and Germany are some of the
destinations with the greatest appeal. Shopping ‘scenery’ and customs are
valued most as selling propositions.
Once neglected, the leisure sports industry is now booming for a nation that has
never held global sports meets on the scale of the Olympic Games. To most
Chinese, sports are leisure activities which are a way to improve health and for
a long time, Chinese have regarded sports as mainly the pursuit of an ideal, a
way to win honor for the country. However, now that the Beijing 2008 Olympic
Games are nearing, a new economic thrust is emerging in China in the form of
leisure sports. Sports now play an important role in the economy. The Chinese
didn't recognize the huge value of the sports industry until recently. As early as
in 1949, Mao Zedong put forward a slogan: "Develop sports activities and build
up people's bodies." In order to improve people's health, the Chinese
government invested in a handsome amount of money annually.
A half century ago, the Chinese government spent as much manpower and
material resources as possible to support the training of the country's elite
athletes but neglected the fact that ordinary people also needed sports
activities. Now with its opening and reform policy, China is merging into the
world rapidly and the decades-old policies on sports have changed. At present,
the global sports industry generates about 400 billion USD annually.
Comparatively, China's sports industry has had a late start and is small-scaled.
But China's penchant for organized sports has been developing very fast in
recent years and, like its Tourism sector, will build exponentially over the next
few years as a result of the 2008 Olympic Games.
In recent years, some regions of China, especially the more developed ones,
have been experiencing the benefits of the growth of the leisure sports industry.
This industry does not confine itself only to the stadiums and sports fields.
Sporting goods and sports-related travel as well as the fast-growing number of
gyms in cities all combine to form a big leisure sports industry. Other related
fields like the sports lottery and its advertisements are also driven by the ever-
expanding sports industry.
In 2004, Chinese athletes won 32 gold medals at the Athens Olympic Games,
which greatly inspired the Chinese people. More and more Chinese are taking
part in all kinds of sports activities now. Leisure sports are becoming a part of
the everyday life of ordinary Chinese. In many cities, there are gyms, swimming
pools, football fields and basketball courts packed with people. Skiing, which
was once considered a luxury sport, is now available to ordinary people. Millions
of Chinese regularly buy sports lottery tickets.
In Beijing, public sports facilities are being upgraded and public sports activities
are thriving. In 2003, the municipal government spent 170 million yuan to equip
1,239 sports facilities in the city. Nearly all streets and communities in Beijing
now have recreational areas. There are altogether 3,811 public recreational
areas in the city. Also in 2003, over 1.34 million Beijing citizens took part in the
8,749 community sports activities held in the capital. Considering that half of
most people's lifetime is spent in leisure activities, it's clear to see that the
leisure sports industry has great market potential. Many Chinese have already
jumped on this profitable bandwagon. Zhu Shuhao, the founder of China's
biggest leisure sports business, earned over 3.8 billion yuan through his
Guanlan Lake Golf Club and his sports-themed holiday inns in Shenzhen. Yao
Ming, the NBA star, earns 150 million yuan (US$20M) annually. Sports
programs on TV are also becoming more and more popular, and thus have
attracted more and more advertisements. Obviously, leisure sports are poised to
become the next focus of economic development in China. (China Internet
Information Center: http://www. china. org.cn)
The Philippines can have many competitive advantages in the Sports Tourism
marketplace including a climate conducive to outdoor activities and a diverse
range of sporting activities in a “Natural Setting”. The development and access
to quality sports facilities and well developed tourism infrastructure (e.g. roads,
accommodation infrastructure) can be bring vast changes to the image of a
country like the Philippines as a sporting nation and tourism destination. The
weather and climate are conducive for year-round sports training, with daily
high temperatures ranging from low 20’s to low 30’s due to the combination of
its coastal proximity and subtropical geographic location. It provides a range of
opportunities in areas such as pre-season training camps; English-only
emersion/instruction can be one of the core attractions for international
athletes. Without question, Philippines have the highest level of English-
speaking proficiency, integration into everyday lifestyle, and available
coaches/instructors of any Asian country. The development of eco-tourism,
medical tourism and retirement villages are added values and assets which form
the basis for an internationally competitive tourism product. However they have
to be managed in a way that delivers the maximum benefits for the country as a
whole. While there are numerous opportunities within the broader Sports
Tourism fields, some sectors and some markets appear to have particular
potential for the Philippines to further explore.
The South East Asian Games and the Asian Games: The sport event is the most
widely recognized example of sport tourism. And, with mega-events such as the
Olympic Games and the World Cup Football it is not surprising that they involve
the largest volumes of spectators and the largest revenues of all special events
and festivals. Hosting of the SEA and Asian Games can be the subject of much-
needed research on the benefits and costs of such an event. A significant
increase in tourism is not a guaranteed certainty with many impacts dependent
upon the organization and marketing of these Games. Regardless, the staging of
Games is recognized as being a unique opportunity for the host city and country
to engage in high-profile promotion their tourism products at a regional and at a
world-wide level.
Just as importantly perhaps, the lessons that have been learned by government,
sporting bodies and business will play a major role in the further development of
the Sport Tourism sector. In the immediate term, the Philippines’ international
“Sport Tourism” markets will have to be focused on China, Korea, Japan and
“Manufactured” Events: Over the past twenty years or so the interest in sport,
especially elite sporting events, has grown at a phenomenal rate. Sport is no
longer just about playing the game, it is now perceived to have an obligation to
provide public entertainment. This growth has been in parallel with advances in
technology and the evolution of the digital age. People now expect to be
entertained by worldwide sporting events telecast live direct to their television
sets - or perhaps on their home computer. Another variation on the
“manufactured” event theme is an event which is designed from the outset to
promote tourism, rather than being designed as a purely sporting event with the
tourism aspect an added extra. The main emphasis in events of this nature, of
which there are still relatively few, is on the promotion of tourism to the region
where the event is being held, rather than just on the event itself. One of the
major benefits of this type of event is that they can be designed using existing
locations, and to suit the capabilities of the regions. Examples include cycle
races, triathlons, road races, “challenges”. Critically, these events can be
introduced to even out peaks and troughs in tourism activity, and can be
tailored to fit into a regional tourism package of events, attractions and
activities. They can also spread the accommodation load across a region if
necessary. Given that the region which created the event then “owns” the
event, they can be conducted on an annual basis which in the longer term
reduces the costs associated with their staging.
CHAPTER B
1. WHAT IS SPORT?
Sport can mean many different things to different people. Being global
phenomena, sports can stir up deep passion within spectators and players alike
in countries around the world. To one person, sports are a venue for gambling;
to another, they are a mode of personal recreation and fitness, be it skiing,
cycling, running or playing tennis. To business people, sports provide a lucrative
and continually growing marketplace worthy of immense investments. To
athletes, sports may lead to high levels of personal achievement, and to
professionals sports can bring fame and fortune. To facilities developers and
local governments, sports are a way to build revenue from tourists and local
fans. Sports are deeply ingrained in education, from elementary through
university levels. Perhaps we can’t state with confidence that sports enrich the
lives of all of us, but they certainly entertain a huge percentage of the world’s
population.
To begin with, the root word of Sports is derived from “disport¡”, meaning to
divert oneself. It carried the original implication of people diverting their
attention from the rigors and pressures of everyday life. (Harry Edwards, 1973)
Two noted sociologists Johan Huizinga (1955), and Roger Callois (1958) defined
sport, play or games as follows:
Caillois' book built upon prior work from “Man the Player” by Johan Huizinga,
considered one of the founders of modern cultural history. Huizinga assembled
and interpreted one of the most fundamental elements of human culture: “the
instinct for play”. The reader will discover how profoundly the achievements in
law, politics, science, poverty, war, philosophy, and in the arts, are nourished by
the instinct of play
The precise origins of many sports (or Games) remain obscure, although all
cultures have known physical contests. The ancient Egyptians swam, raced,
wrestled, and played games with balls. The ancient Greeks held large athletic
festivals, including the Olympic Games, which drew athletes from all over the
ancient world. The Greeks, and then the Romans, also competed in events
(chariot races, throwing the javelin) that relied on the participation of animals or
the use of mechanical contrivances, a tradition continued into modern times in
sports such as dog racing, horse racing, and shooting.
Athletic games or tests of skill are undertaken primarily for the diversion of
those who take part or those who observe them. The term is restricted to any
play, pastime, exercise, game, or contest performed under given rules, indoors
or outdoors, on an individual or a team basis, with or without competition, but
requiring skill and some form of physical exertion.
Today, however, sport is often anything but diversion to its active and passive
participants. Sport can be defined in many ways and from different viewpoints
or distinctive perspectives. As definitions are mere tools, serving or assisting to
specify some level of precision and characteristics, the following have been
selected to demonstrate sports activity as a part of our social world:
horseshoes, dance, etc. Oftentimes, the type of sports enjoyed and appreciated
resides in religious cults, traditions, mores and inborn impulse and basic needs.
(Olivova, 1984)
3. Patterns in Games
In his 1958 book ‘Les Jeux et Les Hommes’ (usually translated as Man, Play
and Games), the noted sociologist and intellectual Roger Callois introduced a
terminology for considering patterns in games. He used the term 'game' in a
very wide manner, applying it to all play activities. This is a partial consequence
of his native language, French, where the term 'jeux' and 'jouer' express the
concepts of both play and game in English.
Callois' interest in games was sociological: the second half of ‘Les Jeux et Les
Hommes’ is a fascinating account of how societies relate to the patterns of play
he identified, and will give readers an understanding by which games become
part of daily life, ultimately giving cultures their most characteristic customs and
intuitions. Callois describes them as follows:
ALEA: is the Latin name for the game of dice: All games that are based on a
decision independent of the player, an outcome over which he has no
control, and in which winning is the result of fate rather than triumphing
over an adversary. More properly, destiny is the sole artisan of victory, and
where there is rivalry, what is meant is that the winner has been more
favored by fortune than the loser. Perfect examples of this type are provided
by the games of dice, roulette, heads or tails, baccarat, lotteries etc. Here,
not only does one refrain from trying to eliminate the injustice of chance, but
rather it is the very capriciousness of chance that constitutes the unique
appeal of the game. ALEA signifies and reveals the favor of destiny. The
player is entirely passive; he does not deploy his resources, 24skill, muscles,
or intelligence. All he need do is wait, in hope and trembling, the cast of the
die.
ILINX: The last kind of game includes those which are based on the pursuit
of vertigo and which consist of an attempt to momentarily destroy the
stability of perception and inflict a kind of voluptuous panic upon an
otherwise lucid mind. In all cases, it is a question of surrendering to a kind
of spasm, seizure, or shock which destroys reality with sovereign
brusqueness (bungee-jumping). The disturbance that provokes vertigo is
commonly sought for its own sake. It can be seen most clearly in any games
with speed or snowboarding that serves to heighten the players’ enjoyment
by artificially inducing a state of vertigo.
4. WHAT IS TOURISM?
The following are some additional interpretations describing the scope and the
meaning of tourism:
Tourism is “the sum of the phenomena and the relationships arising from the
interactions of tourists, business suppliers, host governments and host
communities in the process of attracting and hosting these tourists and other
visitors.” (McIntosh, Goeldner & Ritchie, 1995)
Tourism can be construed “as the science, art and business of attracting and
transporting visitors, accommodating them and graciously catering to their
needs and wants.” (McIntosh, Goeldner & Ritchie, 1995)
Tourism is “a means by which [peoples] may know and understand one
another; human understandings being so essential in the world at this time.”
(Mill & Morrison, 1985)
Statisticians and market analysts have sought better descriptors for more
accurate accounting of tourism visitations. (Travel and Tourism Data, 1989) The
World Tourism Organization has developed a definition that states:
a. Domestic tourists are visitors from within the country who stay a minimum
of 24 hours and not more than one year for pleasure, recreation, sport,
business, visiting friends and relatives, mission, conference, health, studies,
and religion;
b. International tourists are residents of one country visiting another for many
or all of the same purposes as domestic tourists.
5. Purpose of Tourism
The reason for travel may be different from the purpose. For instance, one may
need a “rest” or “the advertising was pervasive” or simply “to accompany a
friend”. Mere explanations do not necessarily explain the intention or resolve for
travel. The following “Purpose of Travel Classifications” are based on current
practices and recommendations from the World Tourism Organization and from
United Nations documentation:
Leisure
(a) Seaside or Lake
(b) Countryside, mountains
(c) Culture (festival, theatre, opera - as a spectator)
(d) Carnival (as a spectator)
(e) Sports events (as a spectator)
(f) Spa holiday
(g) Convalescing
(h) Rest and recuperation
(i) Honeymoon, romance
(j) Gambling
(k) Shopping
Touring, Sightseeing
(a) Based on one center destination
(b) One country – based on more than one center
(c) Several countries
Sports (Active)
(a) Winter sports
(b) Boating (yacht, barge, etc)
(c) Diving (scuba, etc.)
(d) Events (Olympics, World Cup)
(e) Hunting, fishing
(f) Safari
(g) Golf, Tennis
(h) Other
Cruises
(a) Multiple destinations
(b) Single destinations
(c) Casino cruises
(d) Sports cruises
(e) Ocean voyages
(f) River Trips
(g) Other
Estimates of the size of the sport tourism sector vary, mainly because there is
no single, agreed definition of what constitutes “Sport tourism”. While
definitions of tourism are well accepted and fairly consistent throughout the
world, definitions of sport tourism range from narrow ones involving travel
solely for participation in competitive sporting activity to broader definitions
where the “sporting” activity might be more leisure or adventure activity
incidental to the main purpose of travel.
Sports scholars have long debated the definition of sport. Is sport confined to
competitive activities with set rules governing the style and field of play? Does
sport include non-competitive, more freely structured physical activities? Should
business travel be included in a definition of Sports Tourism? If so, are
professional touring athletes appropriately considered to be sport-tourists? After
all, just like conference attendees and corporate business travelers, professional
athletes contribute to host communities in terms of hotel room nights, food and
so forth. Or should the fact that professional athletes are being paid to take part
in sport (and therefore are not leisure travelers) distinguish them as a sports
business traveler rather than a sport tourist? In the same manner, there have
been debates over the definition of tourism and tourists. How far do individuals
have to travel and how long do they have to be away from home to be counted
as a tourist. (Heather J. Gibson 1998)
The World Tourism Organization came out with a relatively limited working
definition that has been used by the industry for several years. The sport or a
sporting activity which under this definition are organized activities.
Unstructured activities undertaken by individuals have been excluded as the
ability to influence such activities is fairly limited. (WTO 2005, Tourism Market
Trends) It is:
In the other continents like North and South America, Europe or Australia, a
sports-related trip of over 50 kilometers can be accepted as the minimum
distance for domestic Sports Tourism. In the Philippines, a 5 to 10 kilometer trip
may already bring a person to another island (nautical distance) and might
require an overnight stay as travel by sea is advisable only by day.
There are many similarities between Sports and tourism, but also fundamental
differences:
Tourism is an experience-based activity; while
Sport is a performance-based activity.
Experience-based aspect can best be explained with the example of Joseph Pine
in his book The Experience Economy. “The price of coffee on a coffee plantation
would be about 1 cent. Coffee, in this context, is a product. Once it is roasted
and properly packed it becomes a commodity and the price per cup may rise to
25 cents. The same coffee freshly ground and brewed in coffee shop becomes a
service and the price could be 100 cents. However, if it is served in New York or
London or Paris in one of these trendy new coffee boutiques such as Starbucks,
it is an experience and the price could be 500 cents. The ambience and style of
the shop becomes a theatre and the coffee an experience.” Tourism provides
people with experiences.
Historically, tourism was more oriented towards the rest, recreation, relaxation
and finding relief from daily stress. The need for tourism to provide this
therapeutic service remains important in the high stressed society of our day.
However, the emphasis has shifted more to health and quality of life issues. This
trend gave rise to the need to include physical and sports activities in tourism
products. The “wellness” experience has become a new growth sector in
tourism. People want active rest and holidays where they can participate in the
make believe world called “play” and at the same time get enough health
benefits through exercise for which there is no time during in their regular-
normal life.
Despite the world economic recession in 1998, people have spent large sums of
money for their exciting vacations. Wherever they go, majority of outdoor
recreation-freaks tend to seek changes, challenges, education, fulfillment of
fantasies and endurance. All however demand authenticity. “Life is either daring
adventure or nothing,” one writer on Extreme Sports has said. The spirit of
adventure has fired mankind’s soul throughout the centuries. Down river, up
mountain, across seas, over the great sand, we have come to reveal the sheer
excitement of all. What draws us on? It is the unfaltering path of life that draws
us ever closer to roars of rapids, the tops of mountains, and the heart of
jungles.” And where can we find such an ideal venue?
Different forms of tourism can be defined in terms of the kind of leisure mobility
undertaken by the tourist and may be identified as types: (WTO 2006)
Some of these resort sites focus on specific, highly developed skills; some cater
to recreational sporting activities. However, installations may vary from site to
site extending from “high level” international standards to campground services.
Halls of Fame dedicated to and honoring particular sport heroes, leaders and
organizers.
Colossal and unique sports facilities such as water slides, summer ski-
bungee jumps.
Sport Theme Parks such as Disney World of Sports.
Sport Shows such as aquatic performances, etc.
cultural setting
natural setting
man-made setting
social setting
economic setting
CHAPTER C
Guideline Framework
With the aim of identifying key measures which would need to be implemented
to facilitate the growth of the Sports Tourism industry, the following
recommendations suggested guidelines are enumerated for the development of
a strategy:
1. Coordination of Industry
2. Infrastructure - Facilities and Asset Audits
3. Education and Training
4. Research and Data Collection
5. Evaluation of Events
6. Implementation
1. Coordination of Industry
a. Establishing Linkages
The fact that most events are organized by sporting bodies as sporting events
first and foremost with tourism almost an optional extra can already represent
failure of the market. Sporting bodies arguably have little incentive to pursue
the tourism benefits which can flow from sporting activities, especially sporting
events, because they themselves cannot directly capture many of those
benefits. The great majority of those benefits accrue to other parties – tour
operators, accommodation providers, transport operators, retail outlets,
restaurants, and so on. And yet many of these people may not even perceive
that they stand to benefit significantly from tourism activity associated with
sporting events. One basic example can be cited is in the case of exclusive
country clubs or sport clubs centered in-and-around Metro-Manila. Based on
consultancy work experience, one common complaint of managers and their
directors is that the sports departments do not bring-in as much revenue as the
food and beverage section so why should the sports departments be given credit
and reasonable budget for facilities upgrade and maintenance.
Tourism and Sports are inter-related. The one renders a service to the other.
Major sports events such as the Olympics, Asian, SEA Games and the world
cups in football and rugby, have become important international tourism
attractions. The remarkable success of the recent Olympic Games in Sydney,
and Athens and the 2006 Asian Games in Doha is a good example of the
significant tourism impacts such events can have. Likewise the tourism industry
has served as an "incubator" for new sports disciplines. Tourism provided an
opportunity for leisure activities to be popularized. With increased popularity
they developed into formally organized Sporting activities. Some even
progressed from leisure activities to Olympic Sports. Beach volleyball,
Snowboarding, Sepak Takraw are several good examples. (International
Olympic Committee)
The challenge is constant to adapt and renew the supply of products and
services to meet the changing requirements of emerging generations. It is
known that sports disciplines as well as tourism products are subjected to life
cycles. With time they lose their original appeal and importance. Management of
the process of renewal and the re-designing of products and services is a field
where sports and tourism can exchange valuable experiences. The creation of a
combined sports and tourism organization would be particularly useful for the
pooling of knowledge relevant to these two fields. Further collaboration in
research and knowledge transfer would certainly pay dividends. An economic
evaluation of the contribution of tourism and sports to development is a
research topic that deserves urgent attention. I believe this is the right time for
such an initiative. Cooperation-coordination in this field will be mutually
beneficial.
At the regional level, clusters or networks can play a number of roles to help
coordinate activities, assist in the sharing of physical resources and encourage
information sharing. For smaller sporting bodies, the level of resources required
(signage, barriers, marquees) may be a deterrent to running events, as can be
the lack of knowledge for first time organizers. Simply sharing these resources
can assist in the planning and running of successful events, with region-wide
benefits for both sporting and tourism groups. At a national level, could play a
role which would largely be one of the provisions of information, including
providing links and referrals to the range of information can be accessed by
event organizers or tourism groups.
There are a number of ways to maximize the returns from investment in events.
These include:
improving the yield from existing events;
staging more events;
supporting events which offer potential returns in terms of tourism;
spreading the benefits of new and existing events to more regions, rather
than just the major metropolitan centers; and
coordination of sporting events with other tourism-related activities to
maximize visitor stay and yield.
Importance must be given to demonstrate clearly to both, the sport and tourism
sectors, the practical advantages of creating and encouraging alliances. While
sporting events continue to be organized purely as sporting events with tourism
a secondary consideration, progress towards fully capturing the business
Questions
Project facilitation;
Establishing networks between sports and tourism organizations and
agencies;
Hosting workshops to promote and establish sports tourism “clusters;
Assessing research needs to establish, maintain and disseminate a
register of research undertaken, and identify research needs.
Assessing education and training needs:
- work with educational institutions, training bodies and the industry
to identify education and training needs and provide information on
appropriate courses available to stakeholders;
- provide advice to government on requirements for facilities and asset
audits, disseminate results of audits;
- disseminate information on best practice, assist in development of
standards, particularly with regard to economic evaluation of events.
2. Infrastructure
Most if not all sporting activities and events rely on having appropriate
infrastructure in place. The most obvious form of infrastructure is the sporting
facilities themselves. A quick look at the list of stadiums and sports-leisure
facilities in the country will show the lack of infrastructure (see Appendix 4,). All
need upgrading and some are no longer used for sporting events. However,
other infrastructure is often more important if sport tourism opportunities are to
be maximized. Adequate accommodation and transportation are often critical to
the success of events where large numbers of people may need to be moved
and accommodated. Recent experience from the 2005 Games revealed lack of
rooming facilities for participants within their respective venues and areas.
Support groups and spectators were clearly challenged looking for rooms on
their own.
Accommodation Infrastructure:
One of the key issues for maximizing the tourism benefits of sporting activity
and events is the availability of a range of accessible accommodation, covering
from the budget to the luxury markets. As part of each region’s asset audit, an
accommodation directory should be produced detailing the bed numbers in each
sector of the market. By identifying the range of accommodation available, local
sport tourism organizers can effectively target particular events, knowing that
suitable accommodation for the specific market is available. As part of this
accommodation audit, consideration could be given to utilizing or upgrading
existing facilities such as school dormitories, barracks, etc, which may well
provide adequate accommodation for the lower end of the market.
Questions
1. Would regional facilities audits and asset audits assist event
organizers to plan for the hosting of sporting events in regional areas?
- If so, whose responsibility should it be do undertake these audits?
Education and training is critical to the success of both the sports and tourism
sectors. For sports tourism, the issue of education and training is especially
important in ensuring that sporting bodies in particular have the required
business skills both to run successful events and to recognize and take
advantage of the tourism opportunities which accompany the hosting of events.
Training in this area is still not readily available in the country. A high level of
business expertise and management skill is critical if the Sport Tourism sector is
to successfully meet the needs of the increasingly Sport Tourism consumer. The
development of Sports Tourism will demand for appropriate and accessible
education and training, particularly in the area of management, where many
not-for-profit sporting organizations rely on part-time staff or volunteers.
Tourism organizations would benefit from greater awareness of sport tourism
opportunities and some education and training to enable them to maximize the
tourism potential of sporting events and activities.
Tourism
The tourism industry has had access to industry specific education and training
from a combination of graduate/post graduate university education, on the job
training, industry based training and accreditation and a range of short courses.
Among the priority areas for future skills development are management and
business skills for medium and small enterprises, marketing skills and specific
management and operational skills for the meetings, conferences, exhibitions
and events sector.
Questions
1. Is there need of dissemination of information to sporting organizations
and/or event organizers about the range of relevant training courses
available?
- If so, whose responsibility is it to undertake this role?
I already reflected on the fact that sports and tourism are inter-dependent and
that there are many areas of common interest. They are both socio-economic
forces that require constant renewal. Both have to build and protect their
images. They have to popularize their activities and transfer a friendly and
accessible image. In management they have much to share. Limited data is
available from the major tourism surveys. At best, however, the picture they
draw is very partial and does not indicate that sport tourism is significant in the
overall tourism market. Like many niche tourism sectors, the sport tourism
sector suffers from a lack of reliable data, or none at all, on which to base
strategic decision-making. Data which might help measure the size of the sector
is not yet available. Indeed, there is no agreed definition of just what
constitutes “sport tourism”, hence any discussion of research and data needs
must start with the need to come to some consensus as to just what “sport
tourism” comprises.
Data types which might provide the basis for a range of research in the Sport
Tourism field include (for both domestic and international visitors):
Questions:
1. Is there a need to be a set of agreed definitions for the sports tourism
sector, including definitions of “sport tourism” for both domestic and
international travelers? - If so, who should coordinate this work?
4. Does research into sport tourism need to focus more on the “big
picture” issues? if so, how can this be achieved? How can we increase
industry awareness of available research and statistics to assist operators
to make sound business decisions?
5. Would regional facilities audits and asset audits assist event organizers
to plan for the hosting of sporting events in regional areas?- If so, whose
responsibility should it be do undertake these audits?
5. Evaluation of Events
A basic evaluation of the 2005 South East Asian Games held in numerous parts
of the country can be a start. Governments lend their support to events on the
basis of decisions made regarding benefits and costs ranging from financial to
social and cultural aspects. Such events may have the capacity to create income
and employment in the short term and generate increased visitation and related
investment in the longer term. Determining the value of sporting events has
been a perennially difficult issue for governments to resolve. There are no
standard criteria for evaluating the economic significance of staging events. A
comprehensive criteria for evaluating publicly funded sport and tourism events
can be approached both to the assessment of economic impact and tangible
cultural and social impacts.
Philippines can learn from other countries like Thailand. Tourism Authority of
Thailand (TAT), created a sub-ministry called the Ministry of Tourism and Sports
in 2002 and immediately focused on promoting of Sporting events in Women’s
Tennis Tour events, Men’s ATP tennis; Professional Golf Tours, Football leagues,
etc. The Thai government through TAT generally provides financial guarantees
to organizers for operation and athletes’ compensation. The revenue generated
by an event from sponsors, spectators, and tourism receipts are then evaluated
for future considerations and continuation of high-impact activities. For the past
10 years, Thailand has continued to develop and upgraded relevant
infrastructure after recognizing the impact and economic gains of Sport Tourism.
(see Case Study, page 62, Tourism Authority of Thailand. http://www.tourism
thailand. org). Canada has been pursuing a program of developing Sport
Tourism “clusters” or networks in regional areas, to bring together relevant
players, raise awareness and maximize tourism benefits. (see Case Study,
Appendix 6, page 63)
Questions
Is it desirable or feasible to develop a standardized methodology for
events evaluation or should we seek to develop a range of “best
practice” models from which organizations can choose, to assess the
impacts of events?
If so -
- who will progress any activity in this area?
- who will determine which model(s) should be endorsed?
6. Implementation
The proposals contained in this strategy will require the concerted efforts of a
range of organizations if they are to be successfully implemented and if the
Sport Tourism sector is to achieve its full potential. Those organizations include
governments at all levels, the tourism industry, the sports sector including
sporting organizations and researchers. A key theme of the strategy is the need
for coordination between what is a very diverse range of stakeholders involved
in the sports and tourism sectors. Communication and coordination, especially
between sporting groups and the tourism sector, will be the key to maximizing
the tourism potential of sporting activities and events. Representatives of key
stakeholders across industry and government, and could play a significant role
in:
Raising the level of awareness about the Sports Tourism sector within both
industry and government;
Identifying and pursuing specific research needs and priorities;
Identifying and overseeing the role of any facilitation unit which might be
established following the release of this strategy; and
Overseeing and reporting on progress in implementing the strategy.
Question
Is there a need for a group to oversee the implementation of the National
Sport Tourism Strategy? - if so, how should such a group be comprised?
Should the various events organizations across the Philippines identify
areas for possible cooperation?
Today’s tourism would be unthinkable without sports. Sports events cannot take
place without some kind of tourism support. They usually depend on a tourism
destination. Clearly, the Sports Tourism industry in the Philippines has
enormous potential. A development initiative can yield enormous gains including
strong inbound tourism growth, sports and tourism infrastructure. There are
considerable economic, sport and community benefits to be gained through
developing the niche market that is sport tourism. Community sports tourism
can lead to improved sport development, enhanced community pride, and more
active populations. Perhaps it may also help cure social ills such as addiction in
drugs, sex and illegal gambling “jueteng”, alcoholism and depression which are
caused by lack of participation and direction. People will immediately feel the
impact of the economic gains made by our government once they see concrete
activities happen in their daily lives.
Sports Tourism also induces its advocates to improve the physical condition of
the environment. As individuals become more involved and fit- and health-
conscious, they become more aware of the conditions of their environment.
Tourists are drawn to the environment mainly for the scenery and outdoor
activities. To the extent that their investments can be used to protect and
enhance the environment, tourism will grow and be self-sustaining. To the
extent that the environment is degraded, tourism will decline. The spirit of eco-
tourism must also be a central theme in our rich natural environment. The
development of Sports Tourism can include the harmonious preservation of
nature and its environment. Without preserving the integrity of our heritage of
our mountains and coastline, Sports Tourism in the Philippines cannot be
realized. Both environment and tourism will have no future.
Before the mutual interests of sports and tourism can be explored, however,
there is a need to understand both the differences and similarities between
these two growing industries. Based on this premise, it must first be
acknowledged that there are different rationales behind sports and tourism.
Sports, on one hand, depend greatly on physical movement, performance and
competition. Tourism is based on a variety of motivations in a non-material
nature. Both sectors have seen the formation of their own different networks.
The question now is how sports and tourism with differing systems can interact,
and share the things in common and in what specific areas they can maximize
growth in a manner that can provide genuine economic and social benefits for
Philippines and the Filipino people. In the Philippines, economic indicators reveal
a surge in investments in infrastructure and an upsurge in Foreign Direct
Investments. Much needed tourism and sports infrastructure must also be
emphasized in the recommended strategy and consequently implemented.
Recommendations
When the positive aspects of Sports Tourism are maximized, it is a powerful and
cost-effective way of supporting a range of development and peace objectives.
The time is ripe for our leaders to realize the full potential of Sports Tourism as
a viable and practical tool for national development. General recommendations
are as follows:
5. Communication: Seek new and innovative ways to use Sports Tourism for
communication and social mobilization, particularly at the national, regional and
local levels, engaging civil society through active participation and ensuring that
target audiences are reached.
APPENDIX 1
The development of National Sport Tourism Strategy shall provide a policy framework for
the future development of the tourism industry and shall identify the development of a
range of niche tourism products as one of the avenues which will promote strong future
growth and diversification of the Philippine tourism industry.
Sport Tourism is identified as one of the sectors showing enormous potential for further
development. A National Sport Tourism Strategy will examine impediments and
opportunities impacting on the development of the sector and to see what role the
Philippine government can play to facilitate its growth.
Consultations must be undertaken with key government agencies and with a range of other
key stakeholders. These should include the Department of Tourism and the Philippine
Convention and Visitor’s Corporation, the Philippine Olympic Committee and its member
national associations and organizations; the Philippine Sports Commission; the Department
of Education; Sports and recreation industry associations and academic researchers
prominent in sports and tourism.
A short discussion paper can be developed by drawing together themes and issues
associated with Sport Tourism development. This paper can be utilized in a series of focus
group discussions which can be convened each center or region, managers of major
sporting facilities, tour operators with an interest in sporting events or activities, economic
development agencies, regional tourism bodies and event organizers.
Thereafter, there will be further opportunity for interested parties to comment upon
release. Feedback received at that stage will be taken into account in the finalization of the
Strategy.
9. Participation
Recognize the need to provide 1. Recognize that participation underpins Sport Tourism.
ongoing support for 2. Address needs of all sectors of the population.
mass participation in sport 3. Encourage and support volunteers.
1. What are the benefits to a town, city or province in building a new facility?
2. Can a new facility (sports and tourism facilty) revitalize a decaying section of
a city?
3. Do the benefits of the government building a new facility outweigh the
costs?
4. Does the construction of new stadiums and amenities by the government
have effects in either parts of the economy (either positive or negative)?
APPENDIX 2
Each plan must have specific objectives and outcomes to meet the needs of local
governments or districts (barangays), together with common elements, to enable
comparison between centers and compilation of data, including:
inventory of facilities
strategies and priorities for facility development
pricing, leasing and management policies
programming strategies and priorities
funding policies
Planning occurs at two levels (regional and local) and consists of two types (general
and specific). Given the size and nature of the region, most specific issues, activities
or facilities are affected by, and impacted upon, what happens in surrounding regional
areas. Consequently, strong argument exists for undertaking strategies and feasibility
studies on a regional basis. Cooperation will be required between local and national
government to undertake regional, specific issue, projects.
surveys (phone, mail, drop off and retrieve, personal interview. etc)
executive interviews
group interviews (focus groups, workshops etc)
competitor analysis
comparative assessments
review of secondary data (previous reports etc)
public meetings (open to all members of the public)
media releases, seeking public comment and submissions
public exhibition of proposals
Protocols must be established at the beginning of the planning process to ensure that
all stakeholders are given the opportunity to have input into the Plan. Selecting
membership of the Project Management Group can be politically difficult, and will
preferably only include individuals who are personally nominated, rather than
individuals selected by, and representing a particular group.
2. Planning Principles
Principles that underpin the government role in recreation and this project are:
access and equity
lifelong involvement
enjoyment
diversity and choice
quality
safety
community benefit
Market research as the process of obtaining information relating to the wants and
needs of consumers, and to gain a better understanding of the market. Market
research involves data gathering techniques such as:
surveys (telephone, mail, drop off and retrieve, personal interview etc)
executive interviews
group interviews (focus groups, workshops etc)
competitor analysis
comparative assessments
review of secondary data (ABS data, previous reports etc)
Community consultation is the process of seeking the community’s views and opinions
on proposals and issues. Generally, community consultation is necessary when
changes of policy or major developments are proposed. The most popular community
consultation techniques are:
Usually, community consultation will occur during the initial stages, when a proposal
is first mooted and towards the end of the process when firm proposals or
recommendations are being considered. While community consultation uses similar
techniques to market research, the focus is different and tends to be more
exploratory and subjective, whereas market research seeks definitive and objective
data.
APPENDIX 3
CURRENT AND EMERGING TRENDS
Sources: Sage Journals. 2007. Global Trends in Sports and Recreation; Philip Gray &
Associates. 2007. Asia-Pacific Tourism-Recreation Planning; Euromonitor
International. 2007
This information module reviews Asia Pacific regional and national trends in travel,
participation in recreation and sport activities and use of recreation and sport
facilities. It includes a general review of emerging trends in society which may impact
on travel, sport and leisure participation; trends in the leisure industry; and trends in
the development and management of recreation facilities:
1. Trends in Travel
According to Euromonitor International, short-haul
Asia will be travel within Asia Pacific is becoming more popular
than ever, with 90% of all outbound departures from
dominated by Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos and Macau, going to
Short-Haul destinations within the region. Not only does the short-
travelers in the haul market dominate departures in Asia, it is also
growing rapidly, with departures up by 20% between
next 10 years 2000 and 2005, compared to long-haul’s growth rate
of 12% over the same period. This trend is set to intensify further over the next ten
years due to a combination of positive factors fuelling growth.
Several key factors which encourage Asians to travel within their region are:
If you add to this the growing popularity of weekend breaks and the increasingly
hectic lifestyles of consumers across Asia Pacific, which is restricting time available for
longer breaks, the forecast that short-haul travel will witness strong growth over the
next five-to-ten years.
Long-haul travel will develop over the next five years as Asians become more
independent and confident in traveling to other regions.
Based on the trends, implications for recreation provision in the Philippines are:
4. Trends in Leisure
The following trends are evident in the regional leisure industry and will impact to
some degree on leisure development and management in the Philippines. These
trends provide a context within which recreation opportunities should be developed,
and give an indication of strategies to be adopted by government agencies.
Stand alone sports facilities of private and exclusive sports clubs tend to operate
at a loss due to decrease in memberships. They now open to general public
patronage;
Housing developments have integrated sports and leisure facilities as part of the
package to home-buyers. Likewise, most hotels.
The general public has a greater recognition, and understanding, of the value of
leisure in improving the quality of life. In particular, there is a greater
appreciation that an active healthy lifestyle has positive benefits by increasing
enjoyment in a wider range of work and leisure activities. This is likely to lead to
increased participation in recreation and sporting activities by more people,
particularly in unstructured activities.
Participants have an expectation that recreation facilities will be developed and
equipped to a reasonably high quality. This has and will continue to result in the
development of:
1. Indoor facilities;
2. Better finished and well equipped facilities.
3. Better playing surfaces and playing conditions in a more pleasant
environment.
Optimum use of facilities is necessary to cover increased capital costs and scarce
resources, for example by the provision of flood lighting and synthetic turf
surfaces.
People prefer to participate in individual or informal activities rather than as part
of a team. They seem to shy away from the commitments of being a member of a
club or team.
Commercial operators provide a wide range of recreation activities, for example
indoor badminton, tennis and fitness centers, creating pressure on other
organizations to provide high quality facilities and services.
The combination of increased capital cost can force proponents of facilities to
consider the long term financial viability, resulting in the development of larger
centralized facilities.
Resource sharing can be more recognized as being in the best long term interests
of the community. This can lead to joint development of housing,
school/community and commercial facilities; development of multi sport clubs
combining for example basketball, soccer, tennis, badminton; the development of
facilities to service more than one municipality; and public/private joint ventures.
It is increasingly necessary for clubs and groups, at all levels, to remunerate
coaches, players, instructors and administrators.
A number of trends, or principles in design, have become apparent over the last five
years. These are summarized below:
Create a warm and inviting atmosphere and ensure longevity by installing good
quality fittings and fixtures.
Provide a social area. At a minimum, vending machines offer snacks, although
most leisure centers have a dedicated kiosk and an area with table and chairs,
preferably overlooking the sports area. In recent times licensed bar areas have
been provided, which tend to be club based, but allow access to all customers.
The intention is to encourage secondary expenditure by customers.
Focus on minimizing staff supervision costs. During off peak periods the leisure
centre should be capable of being supervised by one or two staff, for example, by
combining the kiosk and reception. At the same time however, the design must
allow adequate space to enable the centre to cope with peak demands,
particularly at the reception and kiosk area.
Emphasize safety, for example all walls should have flush fittings so no objects
jut from the wall and provide a first aid room with emergency access for
ambulance and stretcher bearers.
Provide adequate car parking on sealed car parks and ensure rapid entry and exit
of customers.
Provide adequate security, so that when areas of a leisure center are not being
used, they can be locked off to avoid unwanted intrusion.
Position amenities so that areas can be locked off, or service two areas, such as
indoor and outdoor facilities.
Provide for future expansion of additional water or court space or other activity
areas.
Consider the acoustics, both to minimize the internal noise from activities and to
eliminate or reduce noise emanating from the centre that may affect surrounding
residents.
Take maximum advantage of natural light, but care must be taken to ensure that
light does not shine directly onto customers (players) eyes. Particular attention
must be given to skylights, which can affect badminton and volleyball, and glass
walls on the west and northern walls.
Install good quality sound systems for public announcements and to provide
background music;
Ensure that adequate playing arenas are constructed. Check the quality of
flooring and lighting, and ensure that the size, particularly length, width and
height, are appropriate for the activities to be scheduled. Multi purpose sports
centers must be designed for all sports, not just basketball, for example,
badminton and volleyball have specific height and lighting requirements.
Maximize flexibility by having multiple line markings, court configurations which
can be changed according to the needs of the activity, retractable seating which
does not impinge on floor areas, and accommodate both sporting activities and
entertainment.
Optimize all available floor space. For example, use mezzanine floors for
spectators and as multi-purpose areas. Similarly, design activity rooms to be
multi-purpose, for meetings, programs such as Tai kwon do, and for social
functions.
Provide a minimum number of permanent spectator seats to cater for regular
activities. Retractable bleachers or portable seating may be used for major events
and exhibition matches, although these require extra floor space for storage.
Provide corporate boxes if the centre is to be used for elite sport or entertainment
activities. Corporate boxes can be court-side open boxes, or enclosed more
elaborate permanent boxes.
Accommodate different levels of competition: Generally there are three
categories of Competition: local or social, which is used for regular day to day
activities; provincial level competition; and national or international standard
events. The local/social courts take up the least space while national/international
events take up a larger area. Consequently, there may need to be different
configurations of court space for different types of activities.
Give special attention to the type of flooring: Numerous multi-purpose products
are available that meet the needs of elite sport, and satisfy other activities, such
as entertainment or trade shows.
Maximize the use of court space. Divider nets can be used to separate playing
areas, to allow more than one activity to occur simultaneously.
Water spaces should meet the specific needs of the following markets:
1. Recreation and leisure
2. Competition, training and fitness
3. Teaching
4. Health and rehabilitation.
6. Management Trends
The following section outlines a number of management issues or trends relating
leisure facility management:
Many leisure facilities are operated at a financial deficit. In many instances the
actual operating cost is not known until after the end of the financial year. Local
government can require much greater certainty. Where facilities operate at a
deficit, they expect a guaranteed maximum deficit, written into leases and
contracts. In recent years the number of leisure facilities contracted has
increased substantially. As a result, numerous professional management
companies have evolved.
Within the market place there is a mix of commercial and community based
management groups. While their operating philosophy many be substantially
different, on a day to day basis they operate in the same way and give financial
guarantees.
The private sector is willing to invest in leisure facilities in return for management
rights. However investment will only occur if the investment can be protected by
a long term contract. Usually a minimum of ten years is required to enable an
investor to generate sufficient return to make the project viable.
APPENDIX 4
Not included are sports facilities located in private housing developments and educational
and military camp facilities. This inventory shall be continuously updated and improved as
further information is gathered on existing and planned Sports Tourism development.
Philippines Stadiums
Boracay Fairways and Bluewater Resort Golf & Country Club Newcoast,
Cebu Alta Vista Golf & Country Club Aznar Road, Pardo Hills, Cebu City Cebu Country Club
Gov. M. Cuenco, Banilad, Cebu City
International Golf and Resort Badian,
Negros Occ. Bacolod Golf and Country Club Hacienda Binitin, Murcia,
Negros Occidental Golf & Country Club, Bacolod City,
OTHERS:
Identification of
- Coastal venues for Aqua-sport related activities.
- Mountain Resort venues for adventure sports events
- Etc.
APPENDIX 5
1. PROFILE
Area: 300,000 sq km (117,187 sq mi)
Population: 89 million (2006 estimate)
Capital City: Metro Manila (10.4m)
People: Christian Malay (91.5%), Muslim Malay
(4%), Chinese (1.5%); Other (3%)
Languages: Filipino, based on Tagalog, is the national
language; English is an official language for
education and communication.
Religion(s): Roman Catholic (83%); Protestant (9%);
Muslim (5%); and other (3%).
Currency: Peso
Government: Republic
Head of State: President Gloria Macapagal-Arroyo
Vice President: VP-Noli De Castro
Foreign Minister: Sec. Alberto Romulo
Organizations: UN, UNESCO, WHO, ASEAN, APEC, etc.
2. GEOGRAPHY
The Philippines consists of over 7,100 islands covering 300,000 square kilometres (just less
than the British Isles) divided into 3 main areas: Luzon (which includes Manila) in the
north, the Visayas together with Palawan and Mindoro in the central area, and Mindanao
and the Sulu Archipelago to the south. The archipelago is 65% mountainous, 35% coastal
lowlands. The country has a tropical climate with a typhoon season The Philippines is
located right in the heart of Asia - today the fastest growing region. It is located within four
hours flying time from major capitals of the region and sited at the crossroads of the
eastern and western business with a critical entry point to over 500 million people in the
ASEAN market and a gateway of international shipping and air lanes suited for European
and American businesses.
The Filipino workforce is one of the most compelling advantages the Philippines have over
any other Asian country. With higher education priority, the literacy rate in the country is
94.6% - among the highest. English is taught in all schools, making the Philippines the
world's third largest English-speaking country. Every year, there are some 350,000
graduates enriching the professional pool. An open economy allows 100% foreign
ownership in almost all sectors and supports a Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) investment
scheme that other Asian countries emulate. Government corporations are being privatized
and the banking, insurance, shipping, telecommunications and power industries have been
deregulated. Incentive packages include the corporate income tax, reduced to a current
32%, with companies in the Special Economic Zones are subject to only 5% overall tax
rates. A well-developed communication, transportation, business and economic
infrastructure links the three major islands and distinguishes the Philippine economy. Highly
accessible by air, water and cyberspace, liberalization of inter-island shipping and domestic
aviation further sparked improved facilities and services. As Asian economies integrate
within the vast framework of the ASEAN Free Trade Agreement (AFTA), the Philippines is
the natural and most strategic location for firms that want access to the large ASEAN
market and its vast trade opportunities. The Philippines has enhanced and primed up
various areas for investors and offers a dynamic consumer market accustomed to an array
of product choices created by a competitive domestic economy. The Economist Intelligence
Unit has revised its forecast for the fiscal deficit, and now expects it to equal 3.1% of GDP
in 2005 and 2.1% in 2006. Consumer price inflation data for April showed a year-on-year
inflation rate of 8.5% for the third month in a row, reflecting strong global oil prices. We
nevertheless forecast GDP growth of 5.1% in 2005 and 4.8% in 2006, propped up by
inward remittances.
Initial conditions
In the aftermath of the second world war, the Philippines was one of the most prosperous
countries in Asia. However, much slower growth rates since the 1960s coupled with rapid
growth rates elsewhere in the region have seen the Philippines’ relative standard of living
plummet. Long-standing insurgencies by both the Communist New People’s Army (NPA)
and groups campaigning for independence or autonomy for Muslim areas in the south of the
country have occupied government attention, and formed part of the justification for years
of authoritarian rule by Ferdinand Marcos, who held the presidency from 1965 to 1986.
Crony relationships between government and business have frequently been noted, and
populist-style politics have left the Philippines with a large public-sector debt, which inhibits
spending on areas such as education and infrastructure that could improve the business
environment. In addition to these problems, the Philippine constitution, enacted after the
toppling of Mr. Marcos’s administration, permits only a single presidential term, thereby
preventing the emergence of desperately needed effective leadership. Populist politics
combine with the independence of the Senate from party-political control to prevent
effective policy implementation.
On the positive side, the Philippines boasts good English-language skills—reflecting the
close relationship with the US that has persisted since independence in 1946— and a
demonstrated ability to corner a large proportion of global flows of workers’ remittances.
Workers overseas are increasingly likely to be doctors and nurses rather than maids, and so
are able to earn significant sums to remit back to the Philippines, thus providing a vital
underpinning to domestic demand. The Philippines also boasts a large ethnic-Chinese
business class, and is anxious to leverage the opportunities provided by economic
integration with both China and Taiwan. However, these advantages are offset by the
vulnerability of the agricultural sector to typhoons and the El Niño phenomenon, the
underperformance of the tourism sector as a consequence of security concerns, and the
competition that the export processing sector faces from China and other countries in the
region.
Demographic trends
The Philippine population has a very youthful demographic profile, (median age at 21 years
old)—pensioners currently make up just 4 percent of the total population—characterized by
a high birth rate in this largely Roman Catholic nation. Although demographic ageing will
gather speed over the next 25 years as the birth rate declines, US Census Bureau
projections show that those over 65 years will still account for less than 8 percent of the
population in 2030. The labor force will consequently grow in each year of the forecast
period, rising to 59.1m in 2030 from 35.9m in 2004. Over the same period the total
population will rise to 125.6m, from 86.2m in 2004. The rise in the old-age dependency
ratio will thus be partly offset by a reduction in the young-age dependency ratio at the
bottom of the population pyramid. Although a large population of working age can be a
positive asset, as the burden of demographic dependency is spread widely, Philippine
economic performance in recent years has failed to capitalize on this, owing to low rates of
investment. This reflects the government’s failure to spend adequately in areas such as
infrastructure, the persistence of corruption, security concerns, and the diversion of a
substantial proportion of the government budget into servicing large domestic and foreign
debts. As there is currently little prospect of an increase in investment to a level that would
make rapid inroads into unemployment, Philippine think-tanks are urging the government
to adopt a policy to limit population growth.
However, a determined attempt to rein in the birth rate currently seems unlikely in view of
the political influence of the Roman Catholic Church; in any case, over our long-term
forecast period further urbanization will eventually provide an independent stimulus for an
easing in population growth. In the earlier part of the 25-year period, the challenge will be
to create enough jobs to absorb surplus labor and preserve social stability; in later years
unemployment levels will begin to fall faster. Demographic ageing will provide the stimulus
for more expenditure on areas such as healthcare, but much of the spending will need to
come from private companies and individuals.
External conditions
The Philippines struggled to take advantage of a good year for global trade flows in 2004.
Exports to the US fell back, whereas exports to Japan and China rose rapidly. In the earlier
years of the long-term forecast period Philippine exporters face the challenge of stiff
competition from Chinese-based producers in third markets, but over the longer term the
emergence of China is likely to provide opportunities for the Philippines. The recent ruling of
the Supreme Court permitting foreign investment in the mining sector dovetails with
China’s burgeoning need for raw materials, and offers the prospect of significant investment
inflows from China as well as from other leading players in the mining sector, such as
Australia.
Integration with the other member states of the Association of South-East Asian Nations
(ASEAN) will also provide a stimulus to trade. Tariffs within the region have already been
greatly reduced under plans to set up an ASEAN Free-Trade Area 4 (AFTA) by 2008, and
plans for free trade between ASEAN and China by 2010 have also been announced. The
Philippine external sector remains highly dependent on remittances from overseas Filipino
workers, which currently more than cover the large deficit on merchandise trade. Labor
exports have progressed from sending maids to Hong Kong and Southeast Asia to exports
of medical workers to the US, the UK and other OECD economies. There is currently no
indication that the global trend towards an easing of restrictions on migration flows will be
ended, and Philippine facility with the English language adds to the country’s comparative
advantage in this area. The free-trade pact currently being negotiated with Japan should
open up a further market for healthcare and personal care workers. In addition to the
export of labor to advanced countries, personal care within the Philippines for overseas
“health tourists” will also be a significant growth area over the next 25 years.
The opportunities posed by the Philippines’ location in a region of the world that is
experiencing rapid economic growth belie a raft of political tensions between the East Asian
nations, however. The way in which the rise of China as a regional power is managed will
be central to the smooth economic development of all the East Asian countries. Tensions
over the Spratly Islands in the South China Sea, wholly or partly claimed by six different
nations, remain in the background, and the rival claimants have agreed to pursue their
claims by peaceful means. Other regional problems, such as the China-Taiwan issue, also
have the potential to have an adverse impact on the Philippines, but only in the worst-case
scenario of military conflict. Within Southeast Asia itself, Islamist terrorism remains a
concern. A resurgence of instability, possibly related to Islamism, in neighboring Indonesia
could spill over into the Philippines, and a failure to get to grips with security problems in
the southern islands would exact political, military and economic costs.
Environmental Trends: Even with accelerating economic growth, environmental quality is-
fast deteriorating as dramatized by the increased incidence of environmental disasters,
problems associated with mine tailings, deforestation, pollution, salt water intrusion and a
host of other destructive activities. The regenerative capacities of fragmented areas in the
bio-geographic zones that nurture flora, fauna and natural resources are severely
threatened. While advances have been made in the area of biodiversity conservation
alongside the growing awareness of the role of indigenous peoples in maintaining the
integrity of ecosystems, the Environmental Impact Assessment system continues to be
plagued with various enforcement and compliance problems.
Cultural Trends: The inherent strengths of the Filipino culture (e.g. openness, freedom of
expression, resilience, strong family orientation ) continue to reinforce social cohesion
within the Philippine society. These values are also embodied in the growing tradition of
local activism. However, it has been observed that some erosion of Filipino cultural values
has taken place as manifested by, among others, the commodification of indigenous
culture, sexual tourism, consumerism and increasing materialism.
Science and Technology Trends: There have been many positive developments in this area.
These include the improved level of contributions of highly skilled Filipino scientists and the
growing recognition of the value of indigenous science and technology and holistic science.
on the other hand, the sector has its share of problems, such as: the a brain drain"
phenomenon; unfair monopoly of intellectual property rights; increasing use of technology
as a simplistic response to complex problems; poor quality of science education due to
inadequate funding and facilities; among others.
Urbanization Trend: Difficulties in the implementation of agrarian and urban land reform
and rural development programs have contributed to unplanned and uncontrolled
urbanization. Philippine cities have deteriorated as human habitats, beset with intractable
and often interrelated problems like pollution, water shortage, flooding, violence and other
social ills.
Institutional and Political Trends: The Philippines has strong institutional building blocks for
sustainable development, including a strong civil society, socially and environmentally-
conscious business groups, community empowerment initiatives, devaluation and
decentralization. The current wave of globalization is increasingly posing some threat to
the country's national sovereignty. Domestically, the rich continue to dominate political
processes as evidenced by deep-seated iniquitous structures and processes. The challenge
continues for meaningful electoral reforms. Meanwhile, the Local Government Code has
reinforced the role of LGUs in development administration. Civil society, as a countervailing
force, has been engaging government at all levels.
APPENDIX 6
CASE STUDIES
1. Thailand
The Tourism Authority of Thailand, with over 13.76 million tourists last year pouring
in US$19.5 billion, created a sub-ministry in 2002 called the Ministry of Tourism and
Sports to help facilitate increasing demands from sports travelers demanding more
sports-leisure venues and activities. This decision came about after learning that over
25% of their receipts came from Sport-tourists. Now, the emphasis of their current
tourism policy is "to attract high end, quality tourists who want to learn about Thai life
without destroying natural resources." (Tourism Authority of Thailand. 2007)
Following the establishment of the Ministry of Tourism and Sports (MOTS), the
Tourism Authority of Thailand’s scope of work focuses on marketing Thailand as a
destination and the promotion of its multi-billion baht Thai tourism industry, both
domestic and international. This is achieved through destination marketing
campaigns, advertising and public relations, marketing and sales promotions and
participation in international sporting events. The new department also assumes
duties and responsibilities related to the development of service standard for tourist
attractions or sites and sports-tourism products, services and events offered by the
Thai tourism industry. This includes the support of standards for Sport Tourism
operators, businesses and tour guides, in order to achieve sustainable tourism
development and generate economic, social and cultural benefits for local
communities as well as the country.
Responsibilities are:
To study, analyze, research, and compile statistics and data on guidelines for
Sport Tourism development in accordance with the national tourism development
policy and plan;
To establish a development plan for tourism services as well as coordinate,
promote and support the implementation of the plan;
To establish a development plan for the sports tour business and tour guide
registration, including to coordinate, promote and support the operation as
specified by law;
To establish a development plan for tourist attraction sites, including to
coordinate, promote and support the implementation of the plan;
To ensure compliance with the Tourism Business and Tour Guides Act and other
relevant laws;
To monitor and follow up on sport tourism development performance; and
To promote and support the sports business in both the production and service
sectors, including relevant businesses.
The MOTS have helped establish annual major sporting international events such as
the Johnny Walker PGA Golf Tour, the ATP Men’s Tennis Tour, the Sony Ericsson
Women’s Tennis Circuit and many others. Once evaluated and selected for
implementation, the initial operating expenses and prize money is guaranteed by the
MOTS. A profit sharing scheme is then agreed upon with the local promoters and
business operators.
The Philippines sports-tourism initiative can learn from The Pattaya Sports Club in
Thailand. It is directly marketed to the sport-tourist making all Pattaya area a sports
and leisure venue. For a very small initial fee (300 baht or US$10.00) and a one year
annual fee (400 baht US$13.00), the member is given a membership card entitling
him (or her) to discounts at most gold venues in the Pattaya area, and at dozens of
other sports, hotel, restaurant and similar tourist attractions. Information on golf
courses, especially, is readily available on the Pattaya Sports Club's web site. This
site lists eighteen (18) golf courses at which PSC members may play at special rates
between Chonburi on the north and Sattahip on the south, all within less than 50
miles (75 kilometers) of the Pattaya area.
2. Canada
In 1998, 37% of Canada’s 73.7 million domestic trips were for Sport Tourism
purposes. In Canada, sport tourists are defined as individuals who traveled and in
doing so participated in or attended a sport event during the reference period. Sport
tourists account for between 2.5 and 5 million individuals from June to September,
July and August being the most popular months for sport tourist activities (15% and
18%). (Statistics Canada - 1998 Canadian Travel Survey) (Note that this does not
mean that 37% of tourism activity was Sport Tourism – rather that 37% of tourists
traveled at least once for sports purposes).
Since 1996 the Canadian Tourism Commission (CTC) has been involved in a program
designed to promote community and tourism industry interest in development of
Sport Tourism as a viable contributor to the economic well-being of local
communities. The Canadian Sport Tourism Initiative is a program designed to
increase the quality and quantity of sports events hosted in Canada and has a number
of objectives:
to create linkages with the Canadian national, provincial and local sports system
and event hosts to assist in the development of the Sport Tourism industry;
to create new revenue streams and resources for local event organizers, sports
friendly businesses and sport in general;
By the end of 1999 the regions of Kelowna, Cranbrook, Edmonton, London, Kingston,
Hamilton, Moncton, St. John's, Gatineau and Western Newfoundland/Cornerbrook had
all undertaken the Sport Tourism planning process. (Canadian Tourism Commission;
Swart 1998)
Figure 1
Long-Term Prospects
Tourism 2020 Vision is the World Tourism Organization’s long term forecast and
assessment of the development of tourism up to first 20 years of the new millennium.
An essential outcome of the 2020 Vision, are quantitative forecasts covering a 25-
year period, with 1995 as base year and forecasts for 2010 and 2020. International
arrivals are expected to reach nearly 1.6 billion by the year 2020. Source: World
Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
Figure 2
The short term outlook remains very positive, especially against the background of a
strong world economy and as favorable exchange rates continue to encourage
European and Asian travelers:
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