Tuesday, November 7, 2017
Sports Tourism is flourishing in Phuket and some places of Thailand and every year thousands of tourists both local and foreign – head to the island to participate in or witness a sporting event.
Phuket is considered as the abode of swimming, biking, running, golfing or sailing. The island is fast becoming one of the premier sports tourism destinations not only in Thailand but also in the wider region.
With Thailand being ranked as the top MICE destination among Asian countries in 2016, Phuket is one of the top contributors to the industry.
Speaking at a press conference in Bangkok earlier in the year, Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports, said that the sports tourism is an area in which they see a lot of growth potential for the country.
As Phuket is in the map of sports tourism, the marathon is expected to draw over 8,000 runners from more than 50 countries when it returns for the 13th time in June next year.
While the race is commonly referred to as South East Asia’s leading destination marathon, the event is also well-known for its friendly atmosphere, offering race distances for all ages and abilities and thus encouraging mass participation.
Sports tourism in Phuket is not only about large international events. The island also regularly hosts smaller amateur events that may not attract the attention of international athletes but nevertheless play an important role in driving local sports tourism.
Tags: Destination, phuket, South East Asia, sports tourism, Thailand
