Sports Tourism

India has emerged as an important tourist destination in world with its history, culture, rich traditions and historic cities. With the active interest of tourism-related institutions, the country is now being promoted as a Sports Tourism destination.

Tourism, as one knows, is today one of the world’s leading industries besides being the largest employer. At present the main tourist destinations in India are primarily our centres of cultural heritage; historical monuments, forts and palaces, and places of archaeological interest and religious pilgrimage; and areas of natural beauty and enjoyment. However, India has a major geographical advantage over other countries in its vast topological layout and diversity. This puts us in an ideal situation to promote adventure and outdoor activities.

It is now more than apparent that today’s tourist has the urge for adventure, sporting thrills and, more importantly, the will to experiment. Tourist today look for ‘value-added tourism’ in addition to the natural and man-made charms of the destination. They look for a varied experience and are ready to participate in and get involved with adventure and sporting activities, especially those peculiar to the region they happen to choose.

Now after the emergence of Rajasthan as an important, tourist destination in India with its history, culture and rich traditions; monuments, historic cities, festivals and fairs…the state has also become home to various outdoor adventure and sporting activities dating back to the days of the Rajputs, and even further back to the Mughals; with polo, racing, pig-sticking, hunting and shooting…Not all are possible, or even desirable today, but some definitely are traditions no less rich and definitely worth renewing and pursuing with the modern tourist in mind.

Listed below are a few possibilities to further attract tourists to Rajasthan keeping this new angle in mind. Some are new ideas, some are already being done and only need to be somewhat enhanced.

ADVENTURE SPORTS

• Polo (on Horses, Elephants and Cycles)
• Trap and Clay Pigeon Shooting
• Safaris (CAMELS, Horses and Jeeps)
• Camel Racing
• Desert Car Rallies
• Motor-Cross
• Cycling
• Hot Air Ballooning
• Hand Gliding
• Water Sports (on our various Lakes)
• Para Sailing
• Rock Climbing

To foster Sports Tourism, International Council was established in 1990 with international Headquarter at Ottawa, Canada. This Sports Tourism International Council has over 2,000 members from various countries including India. Hence, a platform already exists for creating a federation of Sports Tourism with each organization retaining an autonomous status but sharing information and co-operating with each other in the fields of marketing, research etc.

With active interest from all tourism-related institutions, commercial and otherwise, we do not see why India can’t become the first Sports Tourism destination.