Global Leaders in Sports and Tourism to Converge in Madrid for the 3rd World Sports Tourism Congress

The World Sports Tourism Congress (WSTC) will be held in Madrid at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium on 28 and 29 November. It is organized by UN Tourism and the Government of the Region of Madrid.

This year’s theme, “Tourism and Sport Creating a Lasting Legacy for Destinations”, encourages dialogue on the impact of sports tourism on the economy and its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It will also explore strategies for promoting destinations through sports events and sponsorships.

The congress aims to highlight sports tourism’s potential to drive socio-economic growth and environmental initiatives and its ability to leave a positive legacy on destinations. The event will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and testimonials from key figures in the sports tourism industry and UN Tourism Ambassadors for Sustainable Tourism.

Topics to be discussed include integrating sports tourism into government agendas, the importance of maintaining sports infrastructures beyond their initial use, key factors for successfully hosting sports events, effective sponsorship strategies, and the increasing trend of hosting amateur sports events.

Organizations like the Fédération Internationale de l’Automobile (FIA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Global Sports Innovation Center, the International Master Games Association, and others contribute to the Congress.

The WSTC, which had successful editions in Lloret de Mar in 2021 and Zadar, Croatia, in 2023, aims to raise awareness of sports tourism’s significant role in promoting economic growth and social development in various destinations. The Congress will also discuss the potential benefits of sports tourism, such as its relation to health and well-being and its role in promoting destinations to larger and more diverse audiences.