State should harness our sports tourism potential

Team Kenya members during the closing ceremony of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, England on August 8, 2022. [Kelly Ayodi, Standard]

Tourism has evolved from being Safari and beach-bound, to eco-tourism, cultural tourism, and now to sports tourism. Over time, sports tourism has become an important contributor to local and national social-economic development across the continent. Globally, sporting events have become a strategic tool for development and destination positioning.

The World Travel Market estimates that sports tourism generates about $600 billion annually worldwide. The Confederation of African Football reports that Egypt earned $83 million during the 2019 Africa Cup. According to the 2020 Mazars & ASCI Institute report, sports contributed 0.5 per cent to Africa's GDP in 2020 and will grow annually to add a million more for employment. Following the Covid-19 lull of 2020-2021, 2022 is certainly turning out to be a great sporting year, with major events taking place in Africa. At the start of the year, we had the African Cup of Nations in Cameroon, where Africa's top footballers showcased world-class performances on African soil.