An opportunity to grasp

Sport tourism is a huge business that generates more than $600 billion per annum. It involves travelling to other destinations to undertake or attend different sport activities.

Spain, the UK, Italy, the US and Germany are considered leading sport tourism destinations worldwide. 

Following this, some Arab countries are seeking to enhance and develop sport tourism to get a part of the international tourism market share.

Thus, Qatar will host the 2020 FIFA World Cup, which will add new horizons and challenges to the tourism industry in the area.

Furthermore, Jordan will host another extraordinary tourism event, from September 30 to October 21, 2016, which is the 2016 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup. 

This mega-sport event is expected to enhance the nature and scope of tourism industry in Jordan. 

Improving and expanding tourism-related services in Jordan, including infrastructure, hospitality facilities and others are one of the main positive outcomes of such event.

Offering new job opportunities to members of the local communities and attracting regional and international investors would be other benefits for this sport event.

Furthermore, the event offers the opportunity to promote Jordan as a tourism destination. It would further encourage women to engage in sport activities and help women empowerment. 

Policymakers working in tourism, planners and managers should pay great attention to this event that could help enhance the tourism industry and reinforce the positive image of Jordan as “an island of calmness in a sea of chaos”.

Mamoon Allan,
Amman