Sports Tourism
Sports Tourism Sponsorship Programme
The Sports Tourism Initiative is designed to attract major sporting events with tourism potential to Ireland. The strategy is to concentrate on those events that have the ability to showcase Ireland's natural landscape through the international media. Such events include: outdoor events, which take place against a backdrop of stunning scenery; or those events with capacity to attract large numbers of overseas visitors, which bring great economic benefit to the area in which the event is taking place. The main focus of the initiative is the promotion of Ireland as a “natural sports arena.” Sports like sailing, cycling, car rallying, golf and equestrian feature prominently.
Top
Sports Tourism Initiative 2009
Through the Sports Tourism Initiative in 2009, Fáilte Ireland supported major events including the Irish Open golf tournament, a key date on the Ladies European Tour calendar www.ladieseuropeantour.com; and part of the build up to Ireland’s hosting of the Solheim Cup in 2011 www.lpga.com/solheimcup.
For the first time, Galway welcomed the Volvo Ocean Race to Ireland from 23 May to 6 June, taking its place alongside cities such as Singapore, Rio, Qingdao, Boston, and St. Petersburg.
The Fáilte Ireland Dublin Horse Show and the Tour of Ireland International Cycling Race were highlights of the sporting calendar in August 2009.
Top
Sports tourism events 2010
Sports tourism events scheduled for 2010 have yet to be confirmed and details will be published here as they become available.
For more information please read Fáilte Ireland’s Sports Brochure (PDF, 5MB) and Ireland, A Natural Sports Arena (PDF, 234kb); or contact:
Sports Tourism Unit
Fáilte Ireland,
Amiens Street,
Dublin 1
Tel (01) 8847700
Email: sports.tourism@failteireland.ie
Back