The Philippines is paying more attention to sports tourism, as it recognises the high-value contribution such events bring to tourism.
Philippine Sports Commission (PSC) chair, Patrick Gregorio, said all its partners including the Department of Tourism (DOT) and Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority are strongly pushing for sports tourism, boosted by Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr’s administrative order 38 creating the National Sports Tourism Inter-Agency Committee late last year.
Chaired by PSC and DOT as vice chair, the Committee is tasked to develop and promote the country as premier international sports tourism destination and bid for international sporting events.
PSC has “budgeted a very big amount of funds” and legislators, our senators understand their commitment to give more funding to sports tourism” not just in metro Manila but in all other areas, Gregorio said during the 7th Sports Tourism Awards organised by Sports Turismo Alliance on August 24.
Over 30 international events are lined up for hosting by the Philippines this year alone, with many more major ones coming next year.
Citing the ripple effect of hosting the 2026 Karate One Youth League three months ago, he said 3,000 kids from 90 countries have participated, joined by their grandparents or parents or siblings who stayed for over seven days, and paid for their own airfares, accommodations, tours and meals.
The Tour of Luzon cycling tournament, graced by 17 teams from five countries, got 200 million views.
“I’ve never seen a sport with 200 million organic views,” he quipped.
Cynthia Carrion, one of the pioneers of sports tourism and held several positions with DOT, said many athletes came but went from the airport to the competition venue and to the hotel without seeing the Philippines. She remedied this and now Boracay, Siargao, Cebu, Bohol, Clark and many other destinations are gaining renown for hosting international competitions.
Tourism undersecretary Shalimar Hofer Tamano said the DOT is “working to translate the advantages of sports tourism into programmes and partnerships….that connect sporting experiences with our destinations”.
