Sponsored Listings:
There is a growing trend of fans forgoing couch spectatorship in favour of watching games live at the actual sporting events. This has placed sports tourism in the spotlight for host countries, as they consider the plethora of sports enthusiasts who cross borders to watch and support their favourite players and teams, and can be evidenced through the vigorously contested bids to host global sporting events such as the Olympics, the World Cup, and the Africa Cup of Nations.
And Kenya is catching the global eye as an up-and-coming sports tourism destination. “Sports tourism into Kenya has been on the rise over recent times,” says Michael Njogu, Deputy MD of Sense of Africa, East Africa. “Kenya is well known for its long-distance athletes, who bring home trophies from all over the world. Many of them are from a high-altitude region in western Kenya, which attracts athletes and enthusiasts globally. The Standard Chartered Nairobi Marathon is also an important annual event. Kenya also hosts the annual Safari Sevens, a premier rugby event; and the Kenya Open, part of the European Golf challenge – all of which attract a huge number of teams and fans alike.”
Kenya is home to over 40 golf courses, and already has eight that have hosted major tournaments and are considered to be of an international standard. The courses offer golfers a “stunning diversity of coastal, forest and high-altitude courses, in a consistently comfortable climate,” says Njogu. “Kenya also offers a tremendous selection of activities to keep fit in between rounds, or to entertain family and friends. The just concluded Kenya Open, which is part of the European Challenge Tour, is a big highlight for the golfing fraternity in the country and abroad.”
This makes golf a big drawcard to the African country – but the attraction does not stop there. Njogu says motorsport is big in the country, with events such as the Safari Rally and the East Africa safari classic rally leading the way. “Concours d’Elegance, organised by the Alfa Romeo Owners’ Club, is the classiest event on their calendar – the centrepiece being the judging of 70 classic and vintage cars and 40 motorcycles. Other successful sporting (and social) events include the Maralal Camel Derby, the Lamu Donkey Race, the Lewa Marathon, the Kenya Open, Bullfighting in Kakamega and the Rusinga boat race.”
According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, the global arrivals tourism market is projected to grow between 2% and 3% between now and 2020, with the sports tourism sector predicted to grow around 14%. This marks the sector as a fast-growing one in the global travel industry, equating to around Ksh60.7tr (€488.6bn) per year.
Najib Balala, Cabinet Secretary for Tourism and Wildlife, says: “As the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife, we are committed to consolidating the gains we have made over the years and make Kenya a must-see destination for the discerning international golfer. It is partly for this reason that the government committed KSh100 million (€805 000) to the just-concluded Barclays Kenya Open, because of the value it brings to destination Kenya.”
Source: tourismupdate.co.za
