Marathons key for sports tourism

ACCORDING to the World Economic Forum, the Middle East is “one of the fastest-growing tourism markets in the world”, and sports tourism is playing an important role in that growth.

Apart from hosting the 2019 World Athletics Championships and the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar, the Middle East has become synonymous with high-profile sporting events.

The Dakar Rally in Saudi Arabia, the Formula 1 in Bahrain and the Dubai Marathon in the United Arab Emirates are some of the major sporting attractions in the region.

The annual Dubai Marathon, which was held on January 7, attracted over 30 000 participants, including a Zimbabwean Kudzai “Great Khalister” Pasipanodya.

Ethiopian Addisu Goben (19) won the race with a time of 2:05:01, while Pasipanodya clocked a personal best time.

The Zimbabwean, who has participated at various international marathon competitions, including the Comrades Marathon, believes the sport can be leveraged to promote sports tourism.

The long-distance runner also organises a number of local marathon events in Zimbabwe through the Musabvunda Fitness brand.

Last year, Musabvunda partnered with several organisations, including Moonlight and the Air Force of Zimbabwe, who successfully hosted their debut marathon competitions.

“We had a good time in Dubai, where we participated in an international marathon that is different from other marathons that we run locally or in the region, mainly because of the level of sponsorship and number of people that participate,” Pasipanodya said yesterday.

He sees the marathon event as a combination of sport and tourism.

“As Zimbabwe, we need to do a marathon at the beginning of the year as it sets the tone for the season.

“So, what we want to do is to promote tourism in the country. You find that people who go to the Dubai Marathon, some of them would have gone during the Christmas and the New Year holidays and then also participate in the marathon.

“So, we can actually look at having that in Zimbabwe, and our plan is in the future.”

He indicated that he will soon engage the Government to explore ways in which the country’s tourism sector can benefit from marathon events.

“We actually have plans to engage the Government, through the Sports and Recreation Commission.

“Whatever we do does not only benefit guys in the field or us as Musabvunda, but it also benefits the country at the national level,” he said.

“The plan is to also have a marathon in tourist resort places like Kariba.

“In Nyanga and Victoria Falls, there are marathon events already taking place, but we believe that there is an opportunity that we can take the marathon into other resort centres. “People can come in a week before and then the following weekend participate in the marathon.

“So, it’s something that we are also learning in Dubai.”