Rethinking the tourism legacy of mega sporting events
The global fervor around mega sporting events is electrifying but governments need to revisit their tourism playbooks to build a strong case for hefty infrastructure investments
As I walked through downtown Houston on my way to the FIFA Fan Festival, it was heartwarming to see scores of fans dressed in their team colors, filling the streets, spilling out of hotels and crowded restaurants. For several weeks, the World Cup put Houston - the most populous city in the US state of Texas - at the forefront of global attention, a moment that may have otherwise escaped many international travelers' notice.
Houston’s experience provides a useful starting point for a broader discourse around OIC countries preparing to host major sporting events: how can a few weeks of global attention translate into sustainable tourism demand?
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Reem El Shafaki