Development of Sports tourism in Bangladesh: A contextual analysis

and

policy implications

An Essay
submitted in partial fulfilment
of the course requirements for the BBA course of
THM 112: Fundamentals of Tourism and Hospitality

submitted to
Dr. Muhammad Shoeb-Ur-Rahman
(Course Instructor of THM 112)
by
Abu Obyed Sabab
Student Id: 056
Batch: BBA 15th

Department of Tourism and Hospitality Management

University of Dhaka
10 December 2022
Development of Sports tourism in Bangladesh: A contextual analysis and policy
implications
by
Abu Obyed Sabab

Abstract

Travellers who love sports have been very interested in sports tourism. Every year, a lot of people
come to the country that is hosting the Olympics, the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League,
the Cricket World Cup, Wimbledon, the US Open, etc. In Bangladesh, the T-20 World Cup, the SAFF
Games, the Asia Cup, and many other events have attracted a lot of tourists. In fact, all of these
sporting events contribute significantly to the success of sports tourism. Sport-related tourism is a
growing academic topic and tourism offering. Sport tourism has been popular for generations,
explaining its unexpected popularity. Over the past decade, this type of travel has grown in
popularity. Health and sports tourism are examined. Active, event, and nostalgia sport tourism,
which includes trips to sports museums, iconic sports arenas, and sports-themed cruises, is analysed
and evaluated. Sports and tourism agencies need improved policy coordination.

Keywords: Sports,Concepts of Sports tourism,Sports Event Tourism,Active Sports Tourism ,Prospects.

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 Table of Contents

Abstract .....................................................................ii

Table of contents .........................................................iii

List of Tables ...............................................................iii

List of figures .............................................................iii

1.0 Introduction.....................................................1

2.0 Defining Tourism..............................................1

2.1 Different types/ classifying tourism ........ 1

2.1.1 Definition of Sports Tourism..................2

2.1.2 Types of Sports Tourism………………………..2

3.0 Sports Tourism in Bangladesh ...................................2

4.0 Historical Places in Dhaka for War Tourism...............6

4.1 Liberation War Museum..............................6

4.2 Martyred Intellectuals Memorial................7

4.3 National Martyr’s Monument......................7

4.4 Suhrawardy Udyan .....................................8

4.5 Museum of Independence............................8

5.0 Conclusion.........................................................8

References ...........................................................11

List of Figures

Figure 1.1 Potentiality of Bangladesh being sports destination..........................................................7

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.

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1.0 Introduction
A The travel and tourism sector is the world's largest and most dynamic. This activity generates
income and helps to fill open positions. It's a chance to learn about a country's history, society, and
religion. Tourism is a significant source of income for many countries. It's a stealthy way to bring in
cash abroad without actually parting with much of your home country's production. Unlike most
other industries, tourism requires a large number of workers. It offers a variety of amenities that
visitors have come to expect and require. Money spent by tourists is a major source of revenue for
host countries. A country's GDP may be surpassed by the sums brought in by its tourism industry.
These days, tourism is one of the world's most dynamic and rapidly expanding businesses,
responsible for a substantial number of new jobs. It is a form of invisible export that brings in
significant foreign currency with no corresponding loss of domestic resources.

2.0 Defining Tourism

The word "tour" comes from the Latin word "tornare," which means "to return." The word "tourism"
comes from the Greek word "tornos," which means "a lathe or circle" or "the movement around a
central point or axis." In modern English, "one's turn" means the same thing (Burkhart & Medlik,
1981). Saayman (2008) says that tourism is the whole experience that happens when tourists, job
providers, government systems, and communities work together to give tourists attractions,
entertainment, transportation, and places to stay. Tourism is when someone goes from one place to
another to see the beauty of that place or to have fun. Also, traveling is thought of as a luxury, and
only people with a lot of money can afford it. "Tourism" is defined by the WTO (1993) as "the
activities of people traveling and staying in places outside their normal environment for less than one
year in a row for recreation, business, or other reasons."

2.1 Different Types/Classifying Tourism

Depending on the reason for the trip and other forms of tourism, there are two main categories of
tourism. International and domestic tourism are two different subcategories of tourism. There are
several subtypes of tourism that can be classified by the reason for the trip as well as other factors.
Forms of tourism: Based on why someone is visiting, tourism can take on a number of different
shapes. According to their nature, these are further classified into numerous varieties. Adventure
tourism, Atomic tourism, Bicycle tourism, Beach tourism, Cultural tourism, Ecotourism, Geotourism,
Industrial tourism, Medical tourism, Religious tourism, Rural tourism, Sex tourism, Space tourism,
Sports tourism, Sustainable tourism, etc. are all examples of different types of tourism.

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 2.1.1 Definition of Sports Tourism

Any involvement of a person in sports activities that are integrated into the context of tourism and
intended to entertain him through sports rather than prepare him for a sporting event is referred to
as "sports tourism." This can be done in one of two ways: as a spectator or as an active participant,
both of which are at the person's own discretion. The United Nations World Tourism Organization
(UNWTO) described sports tourism as "a social, economic, and cultural phenomenon arising from the
unique interaction of activity, people, and place." Alexander Fomin, a well-known Russian fitness
instructor who travels the world for sports and fitness events, provided us with an insight into sports
tourism, a fast-growing sector in tourism. Sports, whether they are played professionally,
recreationally, or both, require a significant amount of travel to be played and competed in many
locations and nations. Mega sport events like the Olympics and World Cups can be catalysts for
tourism development if successfully marketed in terms of destination branding, infrastructure
development, and other economic and social benefits. Major sporting events, such as the Olympic
Games, football, and rugby championships, have become powerful tourism attractions in themselves.

2.1.2 Types of Sports Tourism

Sports tourism brings in a lot of money. We all know that sport tourism involves sports; that's pretty
obvious. But the multibillion-dollar global industry is about a lot more than just a game of sports.
Sports tourism hasn't always been very popular, but in the last ten years, the number of people going
to sporting events in other places has grown a lot. People are now going all over the country and
even the world to see their favourite events, and it's easy to see what has caused this sudden rise in
popularity. There are four main types of sport tourism:

 Sport Event Tourism

 Active Sport Tourism

 Nostalgia Sport Tourism

 Passive sports tourism

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 Chapter 2

3.0 Sports Tourism in Bangladesh

Sports-related games are a vital aspect of the life of a Bangladeshi. In the villages, one may observe a
number of children kicking a soccer ball, while in urban areas, one can observe children playing
cricket. Despite the fact that Bangladesh is not a prominent athletic power, Bangladeshi athletes and
sportspeople have brought her various awards in the past. The traditional sport in Bangladeshi
culture is Kabaddi, a kind of athletics that may have originated in India. The British Army has used
Kabaddi both for recreation and to attract soldiers from Asian cultures. In Bangladesh, numerous
popular games and amusements are played often. During any international cricket or football match
in the country, massive crowds gather to watch and cheer on the players. Bangladesh has efficiently
hosted the South Asian Games, which had attracted approximately 10,000 international visitors.
Bangladesh also organized the 2011 and 2014 cricket world cups. These megaevents had attracted a
significant number of international visitors to our nation. Because Bangladesh is a nation that enjoys
playing games, there are several chances for gaming tourism there.

3.1 Prospects of Sports Tourism

In Bangladesh, a variety of popular sports and pastimes, During any international cricket match or
football match in the nation, a large number of persons watch and enjoy the games with vigour. The
nation was totally prepared to effectively address the South Asian Diversions in the past. It was
estimated that roughly 10,000 universal guests had arrived at that time. Bangladesh is also one of the
most important cricket venues to host the 2018 Cricket World Cup Qualifier. Numerous international
visitors will then travel to Bangladesh to observe the cricket matches. Bangladesh has a tremendous
opportunity to enhance sports tourism. We may establish a national setting and foundation. New
cricket grounds have recently been established in the nation. However, additional sequences should
be filmed in locations such as Cox's Bazar, the world's longest ocean beach and the tourist hub of
Bangladesh, Kuakata, Cumilla, Barisal, Dinajpur, etc. For the development of Sports tourism, we can
seek both local and international investment. Some advantages like raise profile of a nation,
economic opportunity, employments, enthusiasm, financial advantages etc.

3.2 Constraints of Sports Tourism in Bangladesh

The sustainable development of the sports tourism business in Bangladesh faces numerous hurdles.
This sector of the country lacks sufficient infrastructure facilities. In various tourist destinations in

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Bangladesh, the quality of the available lodging is subpar. Some are so pricey that neither domestic
nor international tourists can afford them, and others are in bad condition. Marketing promotion
methods such as advertising, personal selling, sales promotion, and public relations are crucial to the
success of the tourism industry. However, the government of Bangladesh lacks sufficient trained and
knowledgeable human resources and technological know-how to develop policy guidelines for these
promotional methods and overall marketing.

3.3 Promotion of Sports Tourism in Bangladesh

- To improve Bangladesh's reputation in countries that send tourists there. 

- To bring in as much foreign currency as possible by holding international sports events in the
country;
- To make Bangladesh a safe, neutral, and financially promising venue like Dubai (Abu Dhabi);
- To raise awareness of sports tourism among domestic tourists; - To promote tourist products at
home and abroad by holding sports events in those area.
-To make domestic tourists aware of sports tourism.
- To get as many tourists from other countries as possible.
- To get young people interested in outdoor sports.

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 Chapter 3

4.0 The relationship between Tourism and Sports Tourism

Sport and tourism have a complicated relationship. They cover health, recreation and leisure, and
time management; they have cognitive values and are also important in the economic realm. In this
context, sport has become a tourist phenomenon, with host cities of major global events (such as the
Olympic Games and World and European Championships) among the most popular tourist
destinations. Special local attractions are prepared for them, and volunteers and tourist staff are
trained to best showcase the city, region, and country, so that at the end of the event, the
participants want to return to this place, not just for the sport experience.

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 Chapter 4

5.0 Conclusion
Bangladesh is now a low-middle-income country. Its GDP growth rate is 6% on average . The
economy is heavily reliant on labor export, ready-made garments (RMG), and agriculture. Other
notable industries include shipbuilding, pharmaceuticals, and so on. The employment rate is 90%,
which is lower than projected. As a result, disguised work and low-wage jobs are on the rise.
However, it appears that there is insufficient collaboration between the sports sector/industry and
the tourism sector/industry, which might lead to considerable development and establishment of the
sports tourism sector. A major relationship between sports and tourism has yet to be developed at
either the policy or operational levels. The government of Bangladesh should prioritize the growth of
sports throughout the country in its policies. This will create a chance for tourists to visit our country.

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Figure 1.1 Potentiality of Bangladesh being sports destination.

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 References

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