Thailand entered the era of sports tourism
Thailand Tourism Exhibition 2016 from 8 to 10 June in Chiang Mai province attracted 850 delegations from 55 countries with the aim of expanding the tourism business network and related fields.
At this exhibition, Ms. Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul, Minister of Tourism and Sports Thailand, announced: “Thailand is ready to enter the era of sports tourism” with a commitment to invest 100 million baht for the promotion budget. The idea of tourism business combined with sports in Thailand.
The field of sports tourism or the idea of using sports to attract long-term tourists in the world. Thailand has also assessed the importance of sports tourism ideas for a long time when actively hosting major sporting events at the continental and world levels.
Up to now, sports events have been seen as an effective tool for Thailand to attract international tourists, develop infrastructure and sports venues or raise people’s awareness about reach. Important sports for the economy and daily life. Thailand is also holding the record for the number of ASIAD – Asian Games (4 times). Thailand also actively hosts world-class sporting events such as the 2012 FIFA World Futsal, FIVB Volleyball World Grand Frix, LPGA Thailand … to step by step become a “dream sports destination” for national tourists.
Minister Kobkarn Wattanavrangkul affirmed: Thailand can become ASEAN’s leading sports destination when Thai people change drastically through sports awareness. More and more people participate in sports such as cycling, mountain climbing, jogging or golf, tennis and soccer. It is impossible not to mention Muay Thai, the famous Thai martial art. We can host major sporting events, meet modern facilities, reasonable prices with high quality; and above all, the spirit of service and welcoming warm visitors of Thai people.
World-class sports training venues such as the National Sports Training Center system in Saraburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Songkhla and Chiang Mai are also ideal places for national sports teams to attend training and practice with the Thai team.
Private, the Thanyapura Phuket Sports Center, the first training center of the World Water Sports Association (FINA) in ASEAN, is also the place to meet top-notch training conditions for swimmers. Or the sports area of Buriram United football team with FIFA standard football field and FIA racing track is also a place to visit for the dream of sports enthusiasts.
Thailand still needs time to build a symbolic sporting event like F1 racing in Singapore. However Kobkarn believes that Thailand hosting Thailand’s LPGA Golf tournaments, FIVB Volleyball World Grand Frix or SCG Badminton Thailand Open … together with the competition of the world’s top Thai athletes such as Ariya Jutanugarn (golf), Ratchanok Intanon (badminton) or Thai women’s volleyball team with top stars such as Pleumjit Thinkaow or Nootsara Tomkom, is an important factor creating a different accent to help Thailand’s image as a destination of world-class sports.
