Drawing Tourists, Strengthening Economic Growth Through Sports Tourism

October 09, 2008 17:11 PM

KUALA TERENGGANU, Oct 9 (Bernama) -- The government will step up efforts to boost sports tourism events to draw more tourists as well as serve as a catalyst for national economic growth, Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak said today.

He said state governments should promote sports tourism events as they had a major positive impact on the inflow of tourists and the national economy.

"It costs a lot for one minute of air time over paid channels such as ESPN and CNN. However, with sports such as the FEI-World Endurance Championship (WEC) 2008 being broadcast for about 30 minutes, the returns are tremendous," he said.

"Terengganu stands to gain from the huge spillover from this sports and we will carry out such efforts which can contribute to national economic growth," he said at the launch of the countdown for WEC 2008 and the state Hari Raya Aidilfitri reception at the state sports complex in Gong Badak near here.

Najib was accompanied by his wife, Datin Seri Rosmah Mansor. Also present at the function were Terengganu Menteri Besar Datuk Ahmad Said and Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Ismail Sabri Yaakob.

Najib said the presence of 150 participants from 34 countries as well as foreign media representatives at the four-day event would have a major positive effect on the people of Terengganu and the rest of Malaysia as well.



"The hosting of this sport will place Terengganu on the calendar of equestrian events. I understand that Terengganu was selected as the host more so due to the keen interest of the nation's No. 1 rider, the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin, who is the Sultan of Terengganu)," he said.

He also said that Terengganu would have a place among the list of hosts of similar events around the world, including in Germany, France, the United Arab Emirates, Argentina and the United States.

Najib praised the efforts of the Terengganu government in obtaining several endurance race horses and adopting several schools in Kuala Terengganu to provide equestrian facilities to promote the sport among the people.

It is hoped that these efforts would make Terengganu a hub for endurance sports and produce a world champion one day, he added.

The WEC 2008 will be held from Nov 6 to 9 at the Terengganu International Endurance Park in Lembah Bidong, Setiu.


Source: BERNAMA