Sports Tourism and Making an Economic case for Sports

Throughout the world, sports is big business and provides employment and income not just for the players and officials but also for a myriad of other groups such as stadium vendors, hotel employees, journalists and so forth.

With unemployment running high in Kenya, the country  ought to seek innovative ways to use sports provide income for Kenyans and tax revenue for the government.

Hosting international  tournaments

Whenever a Nation hosts an international tourney, revenue is generated for the government through Visa fees for visitors , taxes, duty and other fees. Local retailers benefit from being able to sell their wares to visiting players and fans which provides income for them and tax money to the government. Tour operators also benefit from being able to display their wares. Many of these international sportsmen, having seen the country, will later return with their families as tourists. Some will encourage their fellow countrymen back home to visit Kenya based on their positive experiences.

Hosting a major international tournament also puts Kenya in the global spotlight. It gives Kenya an opportunity to show case itself positively and highlight its tourist destinations. Such images will then be televised throughout the world. The price of this publicity is so valuable that it cannot be measured in Kenya Shillings.  

Areas to target

1. If Kenya were to achieve test status in international cricket, at least 3 or 4 international cricket teams such as England and Australia would visit Kenya to play test matches. Such teams usually travel with thousands of fans. Many of these fans are likely to return to Kenya again as tourists.

2. Global youth and age group tournaments are  easier and cheaper to host. Many of these age group players will later mature to become world class players with limitless financial resources. If they had a positive stay during their visit to Kenya, they are likely to return again later armed with their valuable foreign currency. North African countries have of late hosted several age group tournaments. Tunisia for example hosted the world under 20 basketball championships.

3. The world rugby sevens series: Kenya has already established itself as being one of the worlds top sevens rugby nations. The International rugby board has been eager to help Kenya develop further and popularize the sport. If the government were to build a modern stadium in Mombasa, it is likely that Kenya could make a case for itself to host one leg of the series. Rugby fans are also known to travel in multitudes and have plenty of money to spend. This tournament is televised throughout the world and can give Kenya excellent publicity.

4. Point three above also applies to other global series such as the world Motor Rally series which used to include Kenya's Safari Rally.

5. Continental tournaments such as the Africa cup of nations also bring with them excellent publicity as well as a multitude of fans, coaches, journalists, talent scouts and so forth. All sources of revenue.

Rugby fans are known to travel in large numbers to support their teams. Hosting a leg of the IRB sevens every year can be a financial boon for a city like Mombasa.