What are the most effective ways to develop and implement a sports tourism strategy in your city or region?

1 Assess your assets

The first step is to identify and evaluate your existing and potential sports tourism assets. These include natural and built facilities, events, attractions, services, and stakeholders that can support or host sports tourism activities. You need to consider the quality, capacity, accessibility, and sustainability of your assets, as well as the demand and preferences of your target markets. You can use tools such as SWOT analysis, market research, and benchmarking to assess your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in relation to sports tourism.

2 Define your vision and objectives

The next step is to define your vision and objectives for sports tourism development and implementation. Your vision should reflect your desired outcomes and impacts, such as increasing visitor numbers, spending, and satisfaction, or enhancing social, cultural, and environmental benefits. Your objectives should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound, and aligned with your broader tourism and development goals. You should also identify your key performance indicators and evaluation methods to monitor and measure your progress and results.

3 Develop your action plan

The third step is to develop your action plan for sports tourism development and implementation. Your action plan should outline the strategies, tactics, and activities that you will undertake to achieve your objectives, as well as the resources, responsibilities, and timelines that you will allocate and assign. Your action plan should also address the potential risks and challenges that you may face, and the contingency plans that you will have in place. You should consult and collaborate with your stakeholders, such as local authorities, sports organizations, tourism operators, and community groups, to ensure their input and support.

4 Promote your destination

The fourth step is to promote your destination as a sports tourism hub. You need to develop and implement a marketing and communication plan that showcases your sports tourism assets, events, and experiences to your target markets. You need to use a mix of online and offline channels, such as websites, social media, blogs, newsletters, brochures, flyers, banners, and media releases, to reach and engage your potential and existing visitors. You should also leverage your networks and partnerships, such as sports associations, event organizers, travel agents, and media outlets, to amplify your message and exposure.

5 Deliver your services

The fifth step is to deliver your services to your sports tourists. You need to ensure that your facilities, events, attractions, and services are ready and accessible, safe and secure, clean and green, and high-quality and customer-oriented. You need to provide adequate and appropriate information, signage, transportation, accommodation, food and beverage, entertainment, and other amenities to your visitors. You should also offer unique and memorable experiences that cater to the needs and interests of your sports tourists, such as cultural tours, adventure activities, or wellness programs.

6 Evaluate your performance

The last step is to evaluate your performance and impact as a sports tourism destination. You need to collect and analyze data and feedback from your visitors, stakeholders, and partners, using your key performance indicators and evaluation methods. You need to identify and celebrate your achievements and successes, as well as recognize and address your gaps and areas for improvement. You should also review and update your vision, objectives, and action plan, based on your findings and learnings, to ensure continuous improvement and innovation.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?