Kick-off in Madrid: 3rd World Sports Tourism Congress Set to Unite Global Leaders

The third edition of the World Sports Tourism Congress (WSTC), organised by UN Tourism and the Government of the Region of Madrid, returns on 28 and 29 November at the famous Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

For two days, under the theme "Tourism and Sport Creating a Lasting Legacy for Destinations", the congress will bring together leading personalities from the worlds of sport and tourism to share innovative ideas, best practices, and knowledge on the subject, including its economic impact, its contribution to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and strategies to effectively promote destinations through sport events and sponsorships.

Sports Tourism has the potential to drive social, economic, and environmental initiatives, accelerate development, and create a lasting positive legacy on destinations. This year, the WSTC has crafted a comprehensive experience that will feature keynote speeches, panel discussions, and personal testimonials from key figures from the Sports Tourism industry and UN Tourism Ambassadors for Sustainable Tourism.

The focus will encompass a range of topics, including the integration of Sports Tourism into government agendas, the importance of the afterlife of sport infrastructures, key success factors for hosting sports events, effective sponsorship strategies, the growing trend of hosting amateur sports events among others. This year's edition will count on the knowledge and expertise of organizations such as the Fédération Internationale de l'Automobile (FIA), the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the Global Sports Innovation Center, the International Master Games Association, and many other leading organizations

Following the success of the inaugural edition in Lloret de Mar in 2021 and the second edition in Zadar, Croatia, in 2023, the WSTC continues raising awareness about the vital role of Sports Tourism in driving economic growth and social development in various destinations. In addition to evaluating the impacts of this expanding sector, the Congress also examines its potential benefits, such as its connections to health and well-being, as well as its significance in promoting destinations to larger and more diverse audiences.