KUCHING: Sports bodies in Sarawak have been urged to emulate Sarawak Lawn Tennis Association (SLTA) by organising international sporting events to boost sports tourism industry in the state.
Speaking to The Borneo Post, federal Deputy Minister of Tourism Datuk Dr James Dawos Mamit said that he had come to his understanding that SLTA since last year had organised seven international tennis championships which had attracted competitors from 35 countries.
“So you could figure out how much revenue these international events had generated for the state’s tourism industry. The incomes are from participants’ entrance fees, hotel-stay, and souvenirs and so on,” he added.
Dawos suggested that sports association could start to tap the potential and benefits of small scale sport events as tourist attraction in Sarawak and also said that sports’ tourists could be categorised into active sport tourist and passive sport tourists.
Quoting researcher’s findings Dawos revealed that the results indicated that tourists who visited the state are those motivated to seek active sport-oriented vacations and on the other hand, passive sport tourists are motivated by social factors and the need to escape from over stimulating situations.
“The fact that sport events in Malaysia attract tourists is well established and prominent examples include the Formula One Grand Prix, Commonwealth Games, South East Asian Games, and Thomas Cup Badminton Finals.
Sports event generates diverse and heterogeneous flows of travellers that may include fans, athletes, coaches, media, team personnel, parents and family members.
Despite the significance of sports event as a form of tourist attraction, it could also promote the natural and rural beauty of Sarawak to sports tourists who might be adventurers and explorers who prefer outdoor activities, or the seeker who might be attracted to the peaceful and tranquil setting,” added Dawos.
He also has the view that sports-body needs to work with local businesses, tour operators, local hotels and restaurants so that these businesses can give a percentage of sales commission from package tours directly to the sports associations who organise the tours.
“For example, if a tour operator books a hotel in the area as accommodation for a sports tour group, a 10% sales commission could be shared among the tour operator and sports-body. And while that sport events are not just for big cities and much benefit can also be realised through small amateur sporting events similar to hosting a mega sporting event. More importantly, the small scale sports events are also an effective means of securing economic benefits in a rural community that might have limited attractiveness otherwise ,” suggested Dawos - www.theborneopost.com
