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MENA Golf Tour relaunches with Keith Waters as chairman and commissioner
18Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Sports Business

MENA Golf Tour relaunches with Keith Waters as chairman and commissioner

The MENA Golf Tour makes its anticipated return in 2025 with former DP World Tour chief operating officer and Official World Golf Ranking (OWGR) board member Keith Waters appointed as chairman and commissioner. Waters’ extensive experience and strategic leadership are expected to significantly elevate the Tour’s status and influence.  Established in 2011, the MENA Golf Tour remains the only OWGR-recognised circuit headquartered in the Middle East, providing vital opportunities for professional golfers from the region and around the globe. The addition of Waters, who brings more than 40 years of expertise developing the DP World Tour and was instrumental in founding the OWGR in 2004, is set to be transformative.  “I’m delighted to be involved in the relaunch of the MENA Golf...
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Sport in Dubai – a sports travel city guide
18Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Guides

Sport in Dubai – a sports travel city guide

Dubai has rapidly evolved into one of the world’s most dynamic sports tourism destinations, attracting fans, athletes, and adventurers from every corner of the globe. From international tournaments that bring together the biggest names in sport to community festivals that celebrate fitness and wellbeing, the city offers an action-packed calendar of events throughout the year. Whether it’s watching the world’s best golfers compete in the DP World Tour Championship, witnessing the electric atmosphere of the Emirates Dubai 7s, or catching elite tennis stars at the Dubai Duty Free Tennis Championships, the emirate delivers unforgettable sporting moments on a global stage. Yet Dubai’s appeal extends well beyond the stadiums and arenas. Blessed with a dramatic desert landscape, pristine coast...
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Golf Tourism South Africa launches to promote golf travel across the country
4Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Sports Business

Golf Tourism South Africa launches to promote golf travel across the country

A new era for South African tourism has begun with the launch of Golf Tourism South Africa (GTSA), currently the only national platform solely focused on promoting golf tourism across the country. Registered as a Non-Profit Company (NPC), GTSA brings together the golf, travel, wine, hospitality, and lifestyle industries under one collaborative umbrella – with the mission of positioning South Africa as a world-class golf tourism destination. GSTA has been founded by Cuthbert Simphiwe Ncube, chair of the African Tourism Board, global tourism leader, and GTSA director; Charlene Thomson, founder of We Women Golf Magazine, golf tourism expert, and GTSA co-visionary; and Lynnqwinda Scott, founder of Visit Africa, digital marketing strategist with more than 20 years in tourism, branding, and ...
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2026 FIA World Rally Championship calendar: 14 rounds confirmed 
4Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Calendars, Events

2026 FIA World Rally Championship calendar: 14 rounds confirmed 

The FIA and WRC Promoter have unveiled the calendar for the 2026 FIA World Rally Championship (WRC), confirming 14 rounds across four continents. The season begins at Rallye Monte-Carlo from 22-25 January 2026, with crews tackling France’s icy alpine roads in one of rallying’s most iconic settings. A spectacular street stage in downtown Monte Carlo on Saturday evening adds extra drama and glamour to an already demanding weekend. It’s the start of a calendar that blends snow, gravel and asphalt events – including returning rounds in the Canary Islands and Paraguay following their introductions in 2025 – before culminating in the desert terrain of Saudi Arabia from 11-14 November 2026. Notably, the opening half of the year brings a welcome mix of surfaces. Asphalt rallies in Croatia, t...
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Aphrodite Hills: Cyprus resort announces sports hub renovation plans
4Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Hotels & Resorts, Sports Business

Aphrodite Hills: Cyprus resort announces sports hub renovation plans

Aphrodite Hills – a five-star golf and leisure resort on the southwest coast of Cyprus – has unveiled plans for a major refurbishment to its sports hub. Easily accessible from the cities of Paphos and Limassol, the resort spans 234 hectares and includes a 290-room hotel, real estate options, a championship 18-hole golf course, tennis academy, award-winning spa facilities, dining and shopping, horse riding facilities and kids’ clubs.  Elevating the resort’s reputation among Europe’s premier sporting destinations, the project will see the venue’s racquet retail outlet renovated to feature a new style that blends country club ambience with sleek modern designs – serving as a one-stop shop for quality racquets, balls and apparel.  Also set for a major upgrade are the resort's changing...
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Europe’s best hotels and resorts for tennis holidays
4Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Guides, Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts

Europe’s best hotels and resorts for tennis holidays

In the Luxury Travel Trend Watch: 2025 report, first revealed by Globetrender founder and CEO Jenny Southan at the 2024 Virtuoso Symposium in Dubai, “racketeering” was named as one of the seven key luxury trends to watch out for in 2025. The trend of racketeering, a term coined by Globetrender, reflects the growing popularity of racket sports like tennis, pickleball and padel being played during holidays.  To meet the growing demand, hotels and resorts are investing in state-of-the-art courts, clinics and tournaments. In this guide, we look at some of the best places to book for tennis and padel holidays in Europe.  Main image: Verdura Resort, a Rocco Forte Hotel Grand Hotel Tremezzo, Lake Como, Italy    The iconic Grand Hotel Tremezzo's Art Nouveau...
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2025’s biggest sports travel trends
1Aug By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Editor's Pick, Holidays & Trips, Sports Business, Trends

2025’s biggest sports travel trends

Sports travel is booming in 2025, fuelled by a growing demand for immersive, active, and socially-conscious experiences. One of the standout trends is the rise of purpose-driven travel, with fans and athletes seeking trips that combine sport with sustainability, local culture, and wellness. From marathons in eco-conscious destinations to community-led surf retreats, travellers want to feel good about where they go and what their trip supports.  Adventure and endurance sports are also surging, with destinations offering multi-day cycling tours, trail running events, and triathlon camps to meet rising interest in personal achievement and outdoor escapism. Meanwhile, the growth of padel and pickleball is driving new regional events and sports holidays, especially in Europe and the Mid...
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Sports travel bucket list: cycling South Africa’s Garden Route
28Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Bucket List, Holidays & Trips

Sports travel bucket list: cycling South Africa’s Garden Route

Exodus Adventure Travels invites riders to embark on a two-wheeled adventure. The tour operator offers an extensive collection of cycling holidays for all levels, from scenic coastal rides to challenging mountain routes across the globe.  Highlights include a new 14-day journey along South Africa’s iconic Garden Route, designed in collaboration with marathon mountain biker Tarryn Povey, as well as epic rides through Portugal’s Atlantic coast, Italy’s Puglia region, the Andes, and southern India. Each trip combines expertly guided routes with authentic cultural experiences for unforgettable cycling adventures. Cycling South Africa’s Garden Route This new two-week adventure was designed with Tarryn Povey – one of South Africa’s top marathon mountain bikers – and showcases the b...
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Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 England: fan zone locations confirmed 
28Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Editor's Pick, Events, Sports Business

Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 England: fan zone locations confirmed 

England is set to host a nationwide celebration for the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025, with fan zones unveiled in official host locations across the country. Running from 22 August to 27 September, and with more than 330,000 tickets already sold, the tournament will take place across eight venues throughout England, making it the biggest celebration of women’s rugby ever staged.    The fan zones, which will be free to enter, will be open on match-days and at various times throughout the six-week tournament, offering fans, residents and visitors a chance to enjoy the atmosphere and take part in the biggest celebration of women’s rugby.  At the heart of the action will be Battersea Power Station, which has been unveiled as the official tournament fan zone in London, in partnership with ...
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Sports travel bucket list: play tennis on a floating court at a French château
27Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Bucket List, Hotels & Resorts

Sports travel bucket list: play tennis on a floating court at a French château

As if staying at a 13th century château in France was not idyllic enough, tennis lovers are in for a real treat at Domaine des Étangs, Auberge Resorts Collection in Massignac. The property in the Charente region in south west France is home to a floating tennis court, gracefully placed on a tranquil pond near the swimming pool.  Exemplifying the Domaine’s ethos – blending luxury with whimsy, seamlessly integrated into its natural, art-filled setting – the floating tennis court has been widely featured as one of the world’s most beautiful and unique tennis courts. Giving the chance to “play a match on water”, this unique facility also offers spectator viewing benches, shaded by trees, so guests can enjoy the action in comfort. Other activities for guests to enjoy include walks ar...
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Saddle Skedaddle marks 30th anniversary with ‘classic’ cycling holiday to Chile and Argentina
27Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Holidays & Trips

Saddle Skedaddle marks 30th anniversary with ‘classic’ cycling holiday to Chile and Argentina

To mark its 30th anniversary in autumn 2025, independent cycling holiday company Saddle Skedaddle has spotlighted a range of 'Skedaddle classics' – trips that have shaped the company over the past three decades and gone on to become firm favourites. Holidays include a guided cycling adventure holiday through the Chile and Argentina Lake District (the first destination Saddle Skedaddle visited in 1995); a guided coast to coast mountain bike holiday in Sardinia (Saddle Skedaddle’s first destination in Italy); and a guided road cycling holiday from Bilbao to Barcelona (the company’s most popular road cycling holiday in Spain).  Here we take a look at the guided cycling adventure holiday through the Chile and Argentina Lake District… Cycling in the Chile and Argentina Lake Distri...
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Equestrian travel: the world’s best luxury hotels for horse lovers
26Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Editor's Pick, Guides, Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts

Equestrian travel: the world’s best luxury hotels for horse lovers

Whether you're an equestrian enthusiast or are simply wanting to enjoy a unique, luxury getaway, the world’s best equine hotels offer thrilling horseback riding experiences as well as immersive and life-changing wellness programmes and unparalleled nature immersion. Here, the experts from The Equine Collective pick out five of the best horseback riding resorts and equestrian retreats around the world – from South Africa's wild plains to Indonesia's sun-drenched beaches and turquoise seas Siwash Lake Wilderness Resort & Ranch: luxury horseback riding in British Columbia, Canada  Best for: wilderness, regeneration and horse–human bonding Siwash Lake is an award‑winning, off‑grid luxury dude ranch nestled in 10,000+ acres of regenerating wilderness following a major 2017 fire. I...
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A guide to Camiral – host resort of golf’s Ryder Cup in 2031
22Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Editor's Pick, Guides, Holidays & Trips, Hotels & Resorts

A guide to Camiral – host resort of golf’s Ryder Cup in 2031

Formerly the PGA Catalunya, Camiral, a Quinta do Lago Resort is a world-class golf and wellness resort between Girona, the Costa Brava beaches and Barcelona. Home to two championship courses and a PGA National Academy, Camiral has been selected to the 2031 Ryder Cup – a prestigious return of the tournament to Spain after 34 years. Camiral’s selection marks Spain’s second time hosting the men’s golf team event between Europe and the US since Valderrama in 1997. According to reports, the event is predicted to have an economic impact of more than €1.3 billion and attract 300,000 visitors to the region. One of Europe’s most acclaimed golf destinations, Camiral has hosted multiple DP World Tour events, including the Open de España and the Final Stage of the Qualifying School. Its world-re...
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‘E-biking is booming’: Much Better Adventures launches new e-bike holidays 
22Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Hotels & Resorts, Trends

‘E-biking is booming’: Much Better Adventures launches new e-bike holidays 

Travel company Much Better Adventures is expanding its portfolio of cycling trips with five new e-biking holiday itineraries. Catering to the growing interest in the e-bike trend, the new collection takes travellers from the highlands of northern Vietnam to Peru's Sacred Valley, culminating at the iconic Machu Picchu and to the beaches of Costa Rica.  The itineraries meet the rising demand for immersive travel among all generations of travellers with e-bikes opening up harder-to-reach destinations for those who are seeking a challenge but want it to feel achievable. These new trips join a line-up of e-bike-friendly adventures that combine riding with hiking, paddling, wild swimming and local food and wine. Sam Bruce, co-founder of Much Better Adventures, said: “E-biking is boomi...
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Strangest sporting events: the weird and wonderful world of sport
22Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Events, Sports Travel

Strangest sporting events: the weird and wonderful world of sport

When we think of sport, traditional activities like football, basketball, and tennis often come to mind. However, the world is full of unique, bizarre, and downright strange sporting events that challenge our perception of competition and athleticism.  These weird and wonderful sports highlight the diverse and imaginative ways to find entertainment – whether it’s racing down a hill after cheese, balancing on unicycles while playing polo, or enduring ferrets in your trousers. Here we take a look at some of the weirdest sports and the strangest sporting events that take place around the world. Main image: Dave Farrance, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons World Gravy Wrestling Championships (England) Location: Rose & Bowl Pub, Stacksteads, Lancashire, England The Wor...
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Como 1907: luxury football travel on Italy’s Lake Como
20Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Editor's Pick, Sports Business, Sports Travel

Como 1907: luxury football travel on Italy’s Lake Como

In May, Italian football club Como 1907 officially unveiled SENT Tourism, its in‑house luxury tour operator designed to bring football fans closer to the emotional, cultural, and aesthetic world of Lake Como. The initiative seeks to extend the club’s identity beyond Serie  A by crafting immersive travel experiences that merge matchday excitement with Italian elegance. Rooted in the club’s transformation under Djarum Group/Sent Entertainment Ltd and president Mirwan Suwarso, SENT Tourism represents the next chapter of Como’s ambition to become a premier football tourism destination, leveraging its stunning lakeside stadium and localised brand ecosystem. New stadium plans unveiled  SENT Tourism is not the only big announcement made in recent months by Como 1907 – the redevelopment o...
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Dubai T100 Triathlon Weekend 2025

The second edition of the Dubai T100 Triathlon Weekend, held in collaboration by the Professional Triathletes Organisation (PTO) and Dubai Sports Council (DSC), will take place from 13-16 November 2025. The Dubai T100 is part of the 2025 T100 Triathlon World Tour, which also includes events in Singapore, San Francisco, Vancouver, London, the French Riviera, Valencia and Wollongong. The 2025 tour finishes with the T100 World Championship final in Qatar from 11-13 December.  Held at Meydan Racecourse, the Dubai event includes a 100km Triathlon and Sprint Triathlon for individuals and a Corporate Duathlon Relay for teams of two or three. General registration is open for amateur triathletes to take part in the 100km race (2km swim, 80km bike, 18km run) and the Sprint distance (750m swim,...
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Sports hospitality trends: global market value to reach $74.32 billion by 2036 
19Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Editor's Pick, Sports Business

Sports hospitality trends: global market value to reach $74.32 billion by 2036 

The global sports hospitality market is on a sharp growth trajectory, according to a new report published by Credence Research. Valued at US$8.35 billion in 2018, the market expanded to US$15.23 billion in 2024 and is projected to reach US$74.32 billion by 2036, registering a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 14.12%. This explosive growth is being fueled by the rising global appeal of major sporting events and a growing appetite for premium experiences among corporate clients and high-net-worth individuals. Demand for VIP suites, exclusive access packages, fine dining, and behind-the-scenes experiences is soaring across flagship events such as the FIFA World Cup, UEFA Champions League, NFL’s Super Bowl, Wimbledon, and Formula 1. What’s driving market growth? Premium sports exp...
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FIFA World Cup 26: what hospitality packages are available?
19Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Sports Business

FIFA World Cup 26: what hospitality packages are available?

FIFA and On Location, the official hospitality provider for the FIFA World Cup 26, have announced a broader range of hospitality packages that are now available to purchase at FIFAWorldCup.com/Hospitality and through authorised sales agents. Featuring 48 teams from six confederations, the FIFA World Cup 26 will take place from 11 June until 19 July 2026, with games held at 16 locations across the three host nations in North America. Following May’s launch of series packages for matches in the United States, football fans around the world can now secure premium access to the largest FIFA World Cup ever through a diverse range of hospitality offers, whether the matches are taking place in Canada, Mexico or the US. Hospitality packages for the tournament include:   Single Match: Fa...
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‘25 by 75’: is this the ultimate travel bucket list for sport and culture?
15Jul By Sports Tourism NewsNo Comments
Bucket List, Editor's Pick, Sports Travel

‘25 by 75’: is this the ultimate travel bucket list for sport and culture?

Few people turn a casual chat into a life-enriching, global odyssey – but that’s exactly what David M. Carter and his longtime friend George Ross have done with their “25 by 75” sport and culture bucket list.  Carter, a renowned sports business consultant and university professor, has built a career around the intersection of sport, strategy, and storytelling. Now, he’s channeling that same insight into a personal mission with his friend: to attend 25 of the world’s most iconic sporting and cultural events – each in a different country and representing a different sport – before turning 75.  With 13 of the 25 already ticked off the list, Sports Tourism News spoke with Carter about the unique challenge, his favourite events so far, and what’s next on the schedule… Top ima...
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