Sports Travel

16Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips, Sports Travel

Sports travel an active ingredient in ‘Wayward Wanderings’

Anna Maria Espsäter is a London-based, multilingual writer whose career and travels have taken her to 96 countries to date. She has worked on 25+ books for a variety of publishers (Footprint, Berlitz, Michelin and others) and her 450+ features have been published in the UK, US, Australian, Dutch, Norwegian and Swedish press. Her most recent book, Wayward Wanderings - A Travel Memoir compiled during lockdown, includes adventure tales of hiking in Eswatini, Morocco, Oman, the Azores and Chile, cycling in South Korea and winter adventures in Finland. Sports Tourism Media is delighted she agreed to give us a snapshot of just some of her experiences..... I grew up in a very sporty Swedish household – my dad represented Sweden at international gymnastics’ competitions and excelled at every sp...

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27Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

2021 F1 British Grand Prix set for full capacity at Silverstone

The 2021 Formula 1 Pirelli British Grand Prix has been included in the latest phase of the UK Government’s Event Research Programme (ERP) allowing a full capacity crowd for the event from 15-18 July. Silverstone will be in touch with all ticket holders in the coming days with further details about how the Formula 1 British GP will run as a pilot event. Ticket holders will be asked for either proof of a negative lateral flow test taken within 48 hours of arrival at Silverstone, or proof of full vaccination, the second dose having been received at least 14 days prior to the first day of attending the British GP. The Silverstone team will be working closely with the ERP experts and particularly the Director of Public Health in Northamptonshire on the specific conditions of entry that wi...

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19Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Business, Sports Travel

The Open: 32,000 daily capacity confirmed for 149th championship

Up to 32,000 golf fans will be allowed to attend each day of The Open Championship. The 149th Open will be taking place from 15-18 July at The Royal St George’s Golf Club in Sandwich, Kent, England.  Last year’s event was postponed due to the Covid pandemic and there had been concerns over the capacity for the 2021 edition, Sky Sports reports. However, it has been confirmed that the championship will be included in the UK government’s “Events Research Programme”, which will enable a number of events to take place with higher capacities than present guidance permits. Of the 32,000 fans allowed each day, this will include existing ticket holders and hospitality guests who have already purchased tickets. Martin Slumbers, chief executive of The R&A, said: “We are pleased to now be ab...

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14Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Sport + Travel interview: Holger Gassler, head of markets & events, Tirol Tourist Board

Holger Gassler is head of markets & events at the Tirol Tourist Board in Austria. He grew up in the Alpine village of Nassereith in the Tyrolean “Lake District”, right on the border to Bavaria. Travelling the world for Holger, continues to be a lifelong passion, in order to "learn about new cultures and gain new insights"; he has lived and worked in Chicago and Melbourne too. With nearly 20 years' experience under his belt with the Tirol Tourist Board and a passionate sportsman who hikes, mountain bikes, road cycles, swims, skis, ski-tours and dives, we are delighted he has found time to be our next interview guest. Here at Sports Tourism Media we love to cover anything related to Austria, one of Europe's great active, adventure and sports travel destinations and have found the ri...

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5Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Holidays & Trips, Sports Travel

Cycling for Softies: take a two-wheel foodie tour of the Cotswolds, France and Italy

Cycling for Softies, a travel company specialising in luxury cycling tours to destinations renowned for their fantastic food, has picked out the perfect trips for foodie cyclists. On the menu are self-guided tours in Italy, France and the Cotswolds in England. Self-guided cycling: A Taste of Italy Famed for its gastronomy, where better to head for an appetising adventure than Italy’s Emilia Romagna region. Combine history, art and culture with locally-produced food and drink, all leisurely explored from the seat of a bicycle. By day, explore gastronomic history in Bologna, the elegant centre of Modena and visit an “acetaia” to discover how the deliciously sweet, rich vinegar is made. During the evenings, savour gourmet evening meals that include some of the finest traditional fayre ...

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1Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

10,000 fans allowed at each Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games venue

The spectator numbers for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games have been announced. Each venue will have a 50% capacity limit, up to a maximum of 10,000 people.  In March it was confirmed that overseas spectators would not be able to enter Japan for the Olympic Games or Paralympic Games due to Covid-19 restrictions. Only Japanese residents will be allowed to attend the summer games. In a joint statement, the International Olympic Committee, the International Paralympic Committee, the Tokyo 2020 Organising Committee, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the Government of Japan announced the following decisions:  In light of the government’s restrictions on public events, the spectator limit for the Olympic Games will be set at "50% of venue capacity, up to a maximum of 10,000 people” at a...

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1Jun By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Guides, Sports Travel

An in-depth guide to… Uefa Euro 2020

An in-depth guide to... EURO 2020 Delayed for 12 months because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the 16th edition of Uefa’s European Championship will be held in the summer of 2021. Still marketed as Euro 2020, the tournament will see 51 matches played in 11 host cities across Europe. The Stadio Olimpico in Rome will host the opening match on 11 June - a group A clash between Turkey and Italy. London’s Wembley Stadium will host both semi-finals on 6 and 7 July and also the Euro 2020 final on Sunday 11 July.Portugal go into the tournament as the defending champions and for British football fans a highlight will be the group D game between England and Scotland at Wembley on Friday 18 June.Here we look at the groups, fixtures and host venues (all times BST). ...

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31May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

An Ocean Independence conversation with Rafael Nadal

Images: Ocean Independence We are definitely kicking-off a summer of tennis in style! Our friends at Ocean Independence (OI) had a conversation with 20-time grand slam winner Rafael Nadal to find out a little more about one of the world's greatest ever tennis players, especially as he kicks off his French Open title defence in Paris. Through Ocean Independence, Sports Tourism Media (STM) jumped at the chance to feature a chat with Nadal about his affinity with the ocean and his treasured yacht. An experienced boat owner, Nadal has been passionate about yachting since childhood, and seizes every opportunity to be on the sea with friends and family. The idea to build a customised catamaran has been part of the superstar athlete’s plans for a while. Seduced by both the yacht’s design an...

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3May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

Flying high: professional sport fuels trend towards private jet use

Whilst the majority of us were unable to travel further than our home office, elite athletes and professional sport continued behind closed doors in the past year, despite a series of lockdowns. To enable teams to do this in the safest and most efficient way, many have taken to the skies through private jet charters. Sports Tourism Media spoke to Clive Chalmers, VP Charter UK, at Air Partner to find out more about the rising demand in sports travel and overall trend pointing towards greater private jet travel from other industries too. Private jets have largely been the preserve of royalty, high-net-worth individuals, CEOs and superstars – but are you seeing new clients and demand especially from the sports sector and first-time users?   Over our 60 years in aviation we have worked w...

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3May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Business, Sports Travel

£30m relaunch: Apes Hill in Barbados aims to become ‘the best golfing experience in the Caribbean’

A golf performance and teaching centre featuring a state-of-the-art Titleist Performance Institute (TPI), the first of its kind in the Caribbean, will open at Apes Hill Golf & Beach Club in Barbados in January 2022.  Utilising the latest technology and a science-based approach, Apes Hill's Golf Performance and Teaching Centre will evaluate every aspect of a player's game to perfect their swing and unlock their full potential. Apes Hill has worked with experts Dave Phillips and Tim Cutshall in designing and fitting the centre. Key features will include a specialised swing analysis teaching bay with a PuttView ball tracking green and an agnostic club fitting system with trackman technology. Currently undergoing a £30m renovation, Apes Hill Golf & Beach Club is relaunchin...

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3May By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Events, Sports Travel

Alicante in Spain named as a host city for The Ocean Race Europe 2021

The inaugural edition of The Ocean Race Europe will be heading to Alicante after the popular Spanish destination was added as a host city for the sailing spectacular taking place in May and June. Starting in Lorient, France, on 29 May, The Ocean Race Europe will then go to Cascais, Portugal, and Alicante before finishing in Genoa, Italy.  Alicante is very familiar territory for The Ocean Race, as the home of both the race headquarters and the venue for each of the around the world race starts since 2008. “We are very excited that Alicante, the current headquarters of The Ocean Race and the home of The Ocean Race Museum, will host the penultimate stop of this new event, The Ocean Race Europe,” said Antonio Rodes, general director of Sociedad Proyectos Temáticos of the Valencian Region...

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11Apr By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments

Sports Travel

Qatar promotes sand dunes experiences to entice skiers and snowboarders

Skiers and snowboarders who missed out on their annual snow holiday are being offered an alternative: the desert sand dunes of Qatar. Qatar National Tourism Council (QNTC) has launched a partnership with Q Explorer Tourism to give ski and snowboard fans the opportunity to get their annual adrenaline fix - with the tour company offering up to a third off the price of sand sports experiences until September 2021. The spectacular dunes of Khor Al Adaid, otherwise known as the Inland Sea, offer a mesmerising alternative to tried and tested ski slopes and are waiting to be discovered by adventure-loving travellers. Skiers and snowboarders are reminded to pack their sunscreen - to avoid goggle marks from the warm winter sun. Q Explorer Tourism is promoting three package deals for day tr...

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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, 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 Fi...

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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 collab...

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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, tw...

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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

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

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, man...

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