Eurosport is throwing its weight behind World Travel Market, the premier global event for the travel industry, in recognition of the growing importance of sports tourism.
The leading sports entertainment media group is sponsoring the new WTM Sports Pavilion, which is being unveiled this year and will feature some of the most iconic sporting venues in the world, and the Sports Conference.
The Sports Pavilion includes Lords, Wimbledon, Twickenham and Wembley representing cricket, tennis, rugby and football respectively.
English Premier League clubs also exhibiting include Manchester United, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea.
The launch of the Sports Pavilion is supported by the Sports Tourism It’s a Tough Game – but Some Win’ conference which will take place on Monday 8 November at 3.30pm at ExCeL, London.
The keynote debate features an impressive line-up of speakers including Marthinus van Schalkwyk, South Africa’s Minister of Tourism, Taleb Rifai, UNWTO Secretary General and Chris Foy, head of the 2010 Games Unit, Visit Britain.
The debate will be chaired by former UK middle distance runner and UK Athletics Chief Executive David Moorcroft. Moorcroft, the former 5,000 meter world record holder, steered UK Athletics out of administration to profitability.
The free debate will address the opportunities the sector presents as well as the potential risks and is targeting agents, operators, hotels and other venues involved in sports tourism as well as anyone looking to get involved in the growing sector.
Sports tourism is a growing sector with a value of £32 billion ($51 billion) a year according to Future Brand Country Index Report/World Travel and Tourism Report 2007.
World Travel Market Chairman Fiona Jeffery said: “Our fantastic new Sports Tourism Programme is delighted to have Eurosport on board as a sponsor. Eurosport’s commitment is testament to the significance of the sector and the desire from all parties to ensure its legacy will be a highly successful one.”
Eurosport Global Commercial Director Olivier Fisch added: “We are pleased to extend our partnership with WTM as official sponsor of the new WTM Sports Pavilion. As Europe’s leading sports entertainment group, Eurosport is convinced that sport tourism is a dynamic industry which significantly contributes to the economic development and popularity of touristic destinations and sporting events. Through our partnership with WTM we will share our media owner experience to demonstrate why sports and tourism are perfect partners. We look forward to welcoming all industry players to the WTM Sports Pavilion.”
