Exploring Sports Tourism in Kenya
Kenya is a renowned sporting nation. Athletics is Kenya’s forte as numerous runners have earned the country medals at the grandest stages. Sports is now a significant part of the tourism industry in Kenya, with athletes visiting from countries in Europe, Asia, the USA and other parts of the world to train or conduct philanthropic activities.
Kenya is home to one of high altitude areas training camps in Iten a distance from Eldoret. Travel experts from Jovago.com incisively look into this untapped potential new front for the tourism industry.
Sport personality, Usain Bolt, the fastest man in the world, visited Kenya for charity work and so did a tennis star, Serena Williams. Recently also Bayern Munich’s coach, Pep Guardiola, was in the country for holiday.
Kenya hosts many marathons throughout the year in locations as diverse as the highlands, the beach and the wilderness. Maralal Camel derby race is an internationally acclaimed event which aims to raise funds to empower the local communities. Proceeds from this activity is normally used to build water points. Maralal Camel race draws local and international tourists and even international media.
The annual Lewa Marathon comes to mind as a major sporting activity drawing participants from all over the world. It is dubbed one of the world’s toughest marathons. The aim of the race is to raise funds towards conservancy and supporting local community projects.
Prominent sportsmen and women visit Kenya to conduct sports clinics and visit places like the Kipchoge Keino Stadium in Eldoret, renowned as a breeding ground for world-famous athletes.
In Nairobi Safari Sevens is hosted – a rugby tournament featuring top international teams. This is a major sport activity in the Kenyan calendar as local and international fans mingle. Well known countries within the rugby circuit are represented during this tournament.
The Kenyan coast is a paradise for beach sports such as deep-sea fishing and water surfing in the Indian Ocean. The coast has the best hotels which offer scuba diving and snorkeling to their guests.
Source: Capital Digital Media
