Prospects of sports tourism
Sports and tourism are very interrelated and complementary. Sports and tourism share common goals, which build bridges of understanding among different cultures, lifestyles and traditions, promoting peace and goodwill among nations, motivating and inspiring young people and providing entertainment and enjoyment to relieve the pressures of daily life to large sections of the population.
From time immemorial, sports and games have appeared as sources of inspiration, harmony and peace among the different nations and cultures of the world. Sports tourism may emerge as a powerful tool for development, stimulating investment in infrastructure projects such as airports, roads, stadiums, sporting complexes, hotels and restaurants - projects that can be enjoyed by the local population, as well as visitors who come to use those.
In Bangladesh, various kinds of popular sports and games are organized regularly. During any international cricket match or football match in the country, hundreds of people watch and enjoy those with enthusiasm. The country is now all set to organise the South Asian Games soon. It is heard that about 10,000 international visitors will arrive then. Bangladesh is also one of the important cricket venues to hold the World Cup cricket matches in February 2011. Many international visitors will also come then to Bangladesh to watch the cricket matches.
There is a great potential to promote sports tourism in Bangladesh. We can develop venues and infrastructure in the country. Some cricket venues have already been developed in the country. But, more venues need to be established in various places like Cox's Bazar the world's longest sea beach and the tourist capital of Bangladesh, Kuakata, Comilla, Barisal, Dinajpur, etc. For the development of sports tourism we can seek both local and foreign investment.
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