Sports Travel

5Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

World Sports Tourism Congress: Catalonia event confirmed for November 2021

After being postponed in May last year, it has now been confirmed that the World Sports Tourism Congress is rescheduled for 25-26 November 2021. Organised by the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) and the Catalan Tourist Board (Agència Catalana de Turisme), the event will be held in Lloret de Mar, Catalonia, Spain. In a statement on its website, the UNWTO said: “Sports tourism is one of the fastest growing sectors in tourism. More and more tourists are interested in sport activities during their trips whether sports are the main objective of travel or not. Sport events of various kinds and sizes attract tourists as participants or spectators and destinations try to add local flavours to them to distinguish themselves and provide authentic local experiences. Sports events can be a catalyst ...

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23Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

Follow in the snowy footsteps of Petra Vlhova in Slovakia’s Liptov Region

It reads like a Hollywood movie script. "Hometown girl skies to victory on the very slopes where she learnt to ski as a child, before going on to become the Alpine World Cup ski champion." Well this is not fiction but the true story of Petra Vlhova, who made history by becoming the first person in Slovakia to win the overall title. Having snaked to victory in the Giant Slalom at the Audi FIS Ski World Cup competition on the slopes of the Jasna Ski Resort, in the Low Tatras Mountains of Slovakia she was well on her way to collecting the world title just a couple of weeks later. She is a super star in Slovakia, not just for her prowess on the slopes, but also for never forgetting her roots and this was most evident with her emotional victory in the Giant Slalom on 7 March 2021. As she...

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14Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips, Scotland, Sports Travel

Golf in Scotland | Gifts and experiences

Scotland is the home of golf and boasts some of the best courses in the world. Here, we pick out some of the best Scottish golf breaks and experiences on offer from our affiliate partners such as BuyAGift.com, Red Letter Days, Expedia and LastMinute.com.  Editor’s note: Sports Tourism Media works in partnership with a number of affiliate companies, so we may earn a commission should you choose to book any deals or packages. All details are provided by affiliate partners. Prices subject to change and correct at the time of publishing.  Scotland holidays and hotels LastMinute.com Scotland holidays: lastminute.com/holidays/scotland Scotland hotels: lastminute.com/hotels/scotland The Kingdom of Fife Tee off at over 45 golf courses in The Kingdom of Fife Hotels in F...

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13Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

African Sports Tourism Week to stage sports tourism masterclass in Nigeria

African Sports Tourism Week, the premier pan-African sports travel trade event, will be staging a sports tourism masterclass from 21-24 April 2021 in Nigeria. Taking place at Ibom Icon Hotel & Golf Resorts in Uyo, the masterclass will attract delegates from sports commissions, ministries and associations as well as tourism boards and ministries. Organisers of the event said: “The masterclass was conceived out of the concern for how opportunities in sporting events, especially, aren’t being maximised, because sports and tourism have always stood aloof to each other, in Nigeria.”  Held under a theme of "Understanding How Collaboration between Sport and Tourism Works, for Socioeconomic Benefits To Destinations", the event will seek to address strategies, framework for colla...

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2Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

World Surf League and Rip Curl announce deal for new Rip Curl WSL Finals

The World Surf League (WSL) and Rip Curl have announced a three-year partnership of the Rip Curl WSL Finals - the new one-day competition that will decide the men’s and women’s world surfing champions.  The inaugural Rip Curl WSL Finals will take place in San Clemente, California at Lower Trestles. At the conclusion of the regular season, the top five men and top five women on the Championship Tour (CT) rankings will head to Orange County for this one-day, winner-take-all shot at the world title. The Rip Curl WSL Finals waiting period will run from 8-17 September 2021, a choice time of year for solid Southern Hemisphere swells to light up the cobblestone point. “I am a huge fan of the decision for the new CT format, it’s like multiple games throughout the year,” said Tyler Wright, t...

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1Mar By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

Cancun to host World Travel & Tourism Council 2021 global summit in April

The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) has announced that its 20th global summit will now be held in April - a month later than originally scheduled.  Organised in partnership with the Government of Quintana Roo in Mexico, the global summit will take place in Cancun from 25-27 April and have a hybrid format, allowing those unable to attend to benefit from the content virtually. WTTC, which represents the global travel and tourism private sector, has taken the decision to move its global summit from March into April to coincide with the expected relaxation of travel restrictions and the beginning of the sector’s recovery. Gloria Guevara, WTTC president and CEO, said: “While Cancun is ready to host our global summit as planned, we believe that moving the event back by just a...

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28Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

England, Sports Business, Sports Travel

England’s roadmap out of lockdown: key dates for sport, travel and major events

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced the roadmap to "cautiously" ease lockdown restrictions in England and confirmed key dates for sport, travel, events and outdoor activities.  Speaking in Parliament on 22 February, Johnson said the roadmap outlines four steps for easing restrictions and before proceeding to the next level, the government will examine the data to assess the impact of previous steps. From 29 March outdoor sport facilities will reopen and from 12 April self-contained holiday accommodation, outdoor attractions, indoor sports and leisure facilities are permitted. From 17 May the remaining holiday accommodation and indoor areas of hospitality venues can reopen. While from 21 June it is hoped all legal limits on social contact can be removed and capacity crowds can...

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23Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

England, Holidays & Trips, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Wilderness England: new adventure travel tour operator is launched

Wilderness England, a new tour operator offering adventure holidays in England’s National Parks and wildest areas, has launched this month.  A sister company to Wilderness Scotland and Wilderness Ireland, Wilderness England will tempt guests to the great outdoors with a programme of guided or self-guided small group trips, self-drive itineraries or private holidays explored on foot or by bike. Launching with 17 new adventures in some of the country’s remotest and most iconic corners, the programme will feature the Lake District, Yorkshire Dales, Peak District, Cotswolds and Northumberland, even sneaking into Wales for outdoor and cultural experiences. Accommodation is hand-picked: small hotels and inns with first rate customer service and fantastic local food. Paul Easto, ma...

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22Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel, Wales

Head to BikePark Wales for the UK’s ultimate mountain bike experience

Two major trends which have blossomed over the last few years and certainly risen to greater prominence during the pandemic, is the "staycation" and "biking" in all its forms. Feeding off both of these, BikePark Wales has launched an all-new mountain bike experience for beginner riders at its purpose-built resort in the foothills of the Brecon Beacons. The new package is the perfect way to celebrate the easing of lockdown this summer, and it's ideal for families and novice mountain bikers looking for a fun introduction to the sport. As well as a personal guide, the park will provide guests with everything one needs including bikes and all the kit, plus lifts back to the top of the hill.  Located in the beautiful Gethin forest, BikePark Wales is home to the UK's greatest an...

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22Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Entries now open for the 2021 World Golf Awards

Golf tourism constitutes a vital segment of the global sports travel marketplace. And the success of the World Golf Awards over the past seven years has created much excitement within golf tourism, ensuring year-on-year growth for the industry event. World Golf Awards has announced its annual call for entries for inclusion in its 2021 programme. The best golf brands and products from across the world are invited to submit their applications to participate and stand a chance to win the ultimate industry accolade. This year’s programme celebrates the full spectrum of the global golf tourism sector. Categories include Best Golf Course, Best Golf Hotel and Golf Course Designer of the Year, and winners range from small companies to global brands. Voting runs from 23 February to 1 ...

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20Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Flanders by Bike: VisitFlanders tourism board to launch new cycling website

The VisitFlanders tourism board in Belgium will launch a dedicated cycling website - flandersbybike.be - at the end of March. It will feature information about new routes, bike rental, luggage transport (for cycling holidays) and resting points. Some of the local themed routes include the Zenne cycle route close to Brussels’ green belt and home to a number of the region’s Gueze breweries and castles. The Voer Valley Cycle route will start and finish in Leuven and take in a number of beautiful castles and landmarks like Tevuren Park (home of the Africa Museum). Elsewhere, the Scheldeland (River Scheldt region) will offer a scenic route via the asparagus (also called "White Gold") growing region of Flanders.  Another route follows a former Vagrant colony route with fascinating st...

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13Feb By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Guides, Sports Travel

European Tour golf 2021 schedule: tournaments, majors and big events

After a stop-start year in 2020, the European Tour is looking forward to an action-packed 2021 for men’s golf.  Announcing the 2021 calendar, the European Tour confirmed a minimum of 42 tournaments in 24 countries and 18 returning tournaments which were postponed or cancelled in 2020 due to Covid-19.  As well as the regular Race to Dubai events, the 2021 season will also include four Rolex Series tournaments, the four majors, WGCs, Olympics and Ryder Cup. The 2021 campaign will conclude with the DP World Tour Championship at Jumeirah Golf Estates in Dubai from 18-21 November. Keith Pelley, chief executive of the European Tour, said: “There is no question that the challenge of reshaping our 2020 season in many ways informed our approach to 2021. One of the key learnings ...

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29Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

What is Europe’s oldest marathon?

I suspect the majority of even seasoned marathon runners would think London, Paris or Berlin to be the oldest marathon in Europe, making the answer even more intriguing. In fact Slovakia’s second largest city Kosice holds this accolade; so how did this come about? Ramy James Salameh finds out... In 2024 the Kosice Peace Marathon will celebrate its 100th anniversary, a milestone that Cassovians are extremely proud of. The marathon is the headline act for a city where sport is part of the very fabric and feeds into a truly diverse range of sporting experiences. The International Peace Marathon was inaugurated in 1924 and really is the torch bearer for sport in this fascinating city, and has given rise to many more sporting activities, clubs and titles. Kosice was awarded the status of...

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26Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Guides, Sports Travel

February 2021 sports events: what’s on the month’s sporting calendar?

The sporting year ramps up in February with many major sports events on the calendar. They don’t come much bigger than the NFL Super Bowl which takes place on Sunday 7 February at the Raymond James Stadium in Tampa Bay, Florida. See an event guide to Super Bowl LV here. Other major sporting events in the second month of 2021 include the Australian Open tennis grand slam in Melbourne, the Fifa Club World Cup in Qatar and the opening three rounds of the Six Nations rugby union championship.  Here we look at the big sporting events taking place in February 2021. Main image credit: raymondjamesstadium.com Related articles 2021 UK and global major sports events: month-by-month calendar2021 sports business events and conferencesSix Nations 2021: fixtures, venues and times...

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15Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Guides, Sports Travel

A guide to… NFL Super Bowl LV

A sports event guide to... NFL SUPER BOWL LV Tampa Bay in Florida will have the sporting world’s spotlight shining on it when the NFL’s showpiece event, the Super Bowl, is held at Raymond James Stadium on Sunday 7 February. Home of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the stadium usually has a capacity of 65,890. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the attendance has been limited to only 22,000 spectators. Of the 22,000, the NFL says 7,500 will be vaccinated health care workers who are invited as guests to “thank and honour them for their continued extraordinary service during the pandemic”. After the completion of the NFC and AFC conference championship matches, it’s the Buccaneers and reigning champions Kansas City Chiefs who will play in Super Bowl LV. Tom Brady’s Bucs will be aiming to wi...

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1Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides, Sports Travel

Great Lakes USA golf guide | Ryder Cup 2021

The Great Lakes USA will once again host golf’s biggest event, the Ryder Cup, with the biennial competition taking place from 24-26 September 2021 at Whistling Straits in Kohler, Wisconsin. This is the fourth time since 2004 that the Ryder Cup has been held in the Great Lakes region, which consists of the states of Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin and Ohio.  In 2016, the Ryder Cup was held at Hazeltine Golf Club in Minnesota, which hosts it again in 2028. Medinah, Illinois was the destination in 2012 and in 2004 Oaklands Hills in Michigan hosted the event.   Wisconsin golf guide The 2021 Ryder Cup is expected to be one of the largest sporting events ever hosted in the state of Wisconsin and Whistling Straits is the first public course in a generation to host the golfin...

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1Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Guides, London, Sports Travel

A sports travel guide to… London

A sports travel guide to... LONDON London, a three-time host of the summer Olympics, is one of the world’s top sporting cities. The English capital is home to many teams, a tennis grand slam as well as the national stadiums for football and rugby union. In 2021 Wembley Stadium will host five games in the Uefa European Championship. Here in this one-page guide we look at London’s sporting highlights, facilities and the things to see and do for sports fans. London’s professional teams, venues and major events Football teams Premier LeagueArsenalChelseaCrystal PalaceFulhamTottenham HotspurWatfordWest Ham UnitedEnglish Football LeagueBrentfordMillwallQPRAFC WimbledonCharlton AthleticLeyton Orient Cricket, rugby and b...

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1Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Edinburgh, Guides, Holidays & Trips, Scotland, Sports Travel

A sports travel guide to… Edinburgh

A sports travel guide to... EDINBURGH Scotland’s historic capital city Edinburgh is not just home to a world-famous castle and arts festival, but also the national rugby union stadium and many superb golf courses. BT Murrayfield Stadium plays host to Scotland’s home international rugby fixtures as well as club games for Edinburgh Rugby. The city also has three main football clubs: Hibernian FC, Heart of Midlothian FC and Edinburgh City. One must-do activity for visitors to Edinburgh is take a walk and climb Arthur’s Seat. Teams, stadiums, golf and events in Edinburgh Teams, stadiums and venues Sports teams Football: Hibs, Hearts, Edinburgh City   Rugby union: Edinburgh Rugby  Ice hockey: Edinburgh Capitals Ameri...

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1Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Cardiff, Guides, Sports Travel, Wales

A sports travel guide to… Cardiff

A sports travel guide to... CARDIFF If you plan to visit the Welsh capital then try and get a ticket to watch the national team in an international rugby union match at the Principality Stadium. Rugby weekends in Cardiff are superb and the Welsh rugby fans are as good as any sporting crowd anywhere in the world. Cardiff’s not just a rugby city though - there’s also football, ice hockey, cricket, golf and plenty of major sporting events to enjoy throughout the year. Teams, venues and major events Stadiums, venues and teams Sports teamsRugby union: Cardiff Blues, Cardiff RFC Football: Cardiff CityIce hockey: Cardiff Devils  Cricket: Glamorgan CCCStadiums and venues Principality Stadium (rugby union, football; 74,500 capacity)Cardiff Ci...

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1Jan By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

Sport and travel-related 30-day challenges for New Year 2021

Getting out to watch live sport or travelling to a sporting destination may be off limits for many of us in early 2021, but that doesn’t mean you can’t set yourself some new year resolutions. From fitness and yoga to photography and reading, here’s some sports travel ideas for your 30-day challenges in January.  By Mike Starling  Running and walking You don’t need to go all Rocky and be up at 4am for a 10-mile run through the snow. Just put your trainers on and go for a 10- or 15-minute run or jog outside. It will be tough at first, but take it slow and build it up. If running isn’t your thing, then just make walking a daily routine.  Download an exercise or fitness app This is one thing I will be doing in the new year. I’m not a big fan of the gym (except for the ...

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