WORLD SPORTS TOURISM CONGRESS 2021

The Catalan Tourism Board, Government of Catalonia, and the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO)
organize the World Sports Tourism Congress, which will take place in
Lloret de Mar on November 25 and 26, 2021.

REGISTRATION CLOSED

Catalonia has been chosen to host this congress due to the region’s extensive sports tradition and its first-class infrastructures. The congress is part of the Year of Sports Tourism in Catalonia, whose main events had to be postponed until 2021 because of Covid. Additionally, the promotion and emphasis of the territory on sports tourism has led Catalonia to become one of the world’s leading sports destinations.

Objectives

Strengthen the relationship between sports tourism, sustainable development and the 2030 Agenda.
Promote diversification, differentiation and deseasonalization.
Enhance opportunities through innovation.
Exchange experiences and report on current and future trends in the sector.
Stimulate public-private collaboration through successful strategies.

Preliminary Programme

Thursday, 25 November 2021

08:00 – 09:00 Sport activity (optional)
09:00 – 10.00 Register & badge collection
10:00 – 10:30 INAUGURATION OF THE 1ST WORLD SPORTS TOURISM CONGRESS

Intervention:

Zurab Pololikashvili, Secretary-General of the World Tourism Organisation
Roger Torrent i Ramió, Minister of Enterprise and Employment of the Government of Catalonia

10:30 – 11:30 SESSION 1: CHALLENGES IN SPORTS TOURISM FOR THE ‘NEW NORMAL’ AND ITS CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Format: Expert session
Topics: Sustainable Development Goals, Agenda 2030, values of sport. The impact of sports tourism (social, environmental and economic development). The new normal post-COVID-19.

MODERATOR:
– Damià Serrano – ACT Director of Experience Marketing and Research
SPEAKERS:
– Kilian Jornet (by hologram)
– Lisa Delpy Neirotti – Professor George Washington University (virtual)
– Sara Mair Bellshaw – Managing Director at Slow Adventure
– Timothy O’Donoghue – Founder & Executive Director Riverwind Foundation (virtual)

11:30 – 12:00 Networking coffee break

12:00 – 13:00 SESSION 2: SPORTS TOURISM FROM THE DEMAND SIDE, MARKET VOLUME AND POTENTIAL

Format: Panel discussion
Topics: Trends in sports and physical activity. From professional elite sport to niche and recreational amateur sport.

MODERATOR:
– Fabián Quesada – Managing Director Spanish Sports Association (ADESP) and Attitude Praxis
SPEAKERS:
– Jennifer Stoll – Director of Research and Education at Sports Events and Tourism Association (Sports ETA)
– Lavonne Wittmann – Director of Global Membership at SKAL International
– Leslie Vella – Malta Tourist Board (virtual)
– Professor Dr. Terry Stevens & Founder Stevens & Associates

13:00 – 14:00 SESSION 3: INNOVATION IN DEVELOPING SPORTS TOURISM: STADIUMS, OLYMPIC GAMES AND MASS PARTICIPATION AT SPORTING EVENTS

Format: Panel discussion
Topics: The impact of COVID-19 on the preparation of sports venues, feasibility and legacy post macro-events, right holders and sustainability of events and sports facilities.

MODERATOR:
– Professor Dr. Terry Stevens & Founder Stevens & Associates
SPEAKERS:
– Josep Escoda – Head of International Relations and Innovation Development at CAR Sant Cugat, General Secretary of ASPC, CIPC Olympic Solidarity Mentor, IOC Academic Advisor
– Juanjo Rovira – Director MIC Sports & MICFootball
– Peter McKeena – Stadium and Commercial Director, Croke Park, Dublin
– Vyacheslav Fetisov – Russian former professional ice hockey player and coach (virtual)

14:00 – 15:30 Networking lunch
15:30 – 16:30 Breakout sessions

15:30 – 16:30 SESSION 4.1: DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION IN SPORTS TOURISM (WOMEN, LGTB, ADAPTED SPORT)

Format: Panel discussion
Topics: Gender, religion, cultural diversity, accessibility: current topics affecting sports and tourism.

MODERATOR:
– Patrick Torrent – Executive Director of the Catalan Tourist Board
SPEAKERS:
– Maite Laporta. Head of Diversity and Inclusion at FCB
– Harry Connolly – CEO Visit West Belfast (Sports Tourism for Peace)
– Sylvana Mestre – CEO/Founder of Play and Train Company
– Karl Ainscough Gates – Chairman of International Gay Rugby Association (IGR)

15:30 – 16:30 SESSION 4.2: THE NEEDS OF SPORTS VISITORS: THE ATHLETES’ AND COACHES’ PERSPECTIVE

Format: Panel discussion
Topics: Adapting the sports tourism suppliers for successful training camps, tournaments and events.

MODERATOR:
– Pere Vilà Collmalivern – Director of the Sports Federations Union of Catalonia (UFEC)
SPEAKERS:
– Miki Delàs. Captain Barça hockey and captain of the Spanish senior men’s hockey team (via hologram)
– Ernest Aguilar – Head of Social Events, Innovation and New Markets, Club Natació Sabadell
– Trystan Bevan – High Performance Coordinator at Cardiff Rugby.. (virtual)
– Paraskevi Patoulidou – President of Thessaloniki Tourism Organisation and gold medalist in the Olympic Games of Barcelona

16:30 – 17:00 Networking coffee break

17:30 – 18:30 SESSION 5: SUCCESSFUL GOVERNANCE OF A DESTINATION AND PUBLIC-PRIVATE SPORTS TOURISM STRATEGIES

Format: Panel discussion
Topics: Local, regional & national sports tourism strategies and governance in the new normal. Private sector involvement.

MODERATOR:
– Professor Dr. Terry Stevens & Founder Stevens & Associates
SPEAKERS:
– Lars H Olsen – Senior advisor at Destination Vadehavskysten (Denmark) (virtual)
– Manuela Di Centa – Councillor at Italian Tourism Ministry
– Geert Bruynseels – Event expert at Sport Event Flanders
– Novak Mass – ALOHAS, Sustainable Solutions in Tourism (virtual)
– Ms Sonto Mayise – Chief Convention Bureau Officer- Tourism Kwazulu-Natal: KZN CONVENTION BUREAU (virtual)

20:00 – 22:30 Official dinner (open to all participants)

El Trull Restaurant (Plaça Nacions Unides, 1, 17310 Canyelles, Girona)

Access with congress accreditation

Friday, 26 November 2021

07:15 – 08:15 Sports activity (optional)

09:00 – 10:30 SESSION 6: THE DIGITAL TRANSFORMATION OF SPORTS TOURISM: SPORTS TECHNOLOGIES AND E-SPORTS

Format: Keynote & Panel discussion
Topics: New technologies impacting the sports, gaming and tourism sectors and sports participants’ behavior and consumption. New trends.

MODERATOR:
– Livia Toth – Ventures Director, Plug and Play Tech Centre
SPEAKERS:
– Nalain Naidoo. International Academy of Sport Science and Technology (AISTS), Head of Business Development (virtual)
– Martí Niubó – Director de Planificació Estratègica i Innovació at Institut Barcelona Esports (Ajuntament de Barcelona)
– Pere Vilà Collmalivern – Director of the Sports Federations Union of Catalonia (UFEC)

10:30 – 11:00 Networking coffee break

11:00 – 12:00 SESSION 7: OUTSIDE SPORTS AND ENVIRONMENTAL FRAMEWORK OF SPORTS TOURISM

Format: Panel discussion
Topics: Impact of sporting events (social, environmental, economic). How to harness the capacity of natural spaces and urban environments for outdoor sporting events. Climate change, COVID-19 and sporting events in open spaces.

MODERATOR:
– Harry John – Founder Pure Solution
SPEAKERS:
– Céline Fortin – Regional Manager, Europe and Oceania of the Adventure Travel Trade Association (ATTA)
– Kattia Juarez Dubón – Director of International Sustainability Commission at the International Motorcycling Federation
– Nathalie Saint-Marcel – Deputy Director of Cluster Montagne (virtual)
– Lluís Breitfuss, Head of Events and Activities FGC Tourism – Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya

Breakout sessions

12:00 – 13:00 SESSION 8.1: NEW RESEARCH INTO SPORTS TOURISM AND GENERAL OVERVIEW

Format: Panel discussion
Topics: Sports tourism statistics, Impacts of sports tourism (social, environmental, economical).

MODERATOR:
– Dr. Kamilla Swart-Arries. Assoc. Prof, Masters of Sport and Entertainment Management, Hamad Bin Khalifa University
SPEAKERS:
– Alessia Mariotti – Director of Second Cycle in the Culture of Wellbeing: Sport, Health and Tourism (virtual)
– Simon Rofe – Director of the Master’s Programme in Global Diplomacy at the Centre for International Studies and Diplomacy, University of London
– Marko Peric – Professor and Doctor at the University of Rijeka Faculty of Tourism and Hospitality Management
– Top 5 Best Practices: video presentations (virtual): 6-minute presentations.

12:00 – 13:00 SESSION 8.2: MARKETING SPORTS TOURISM

Format: Panel discussion
Topics: Trends in the distribution of sports tourism and events, eticketing platforms and marketplaces.

MODERATOR:
– Maurici Carbó – Director Sports & Tourism Consulting. Scientific Committee
SPEAKERS:
– Marco Mazzi – Vice President, International Sports Travel Agencies Association
– Luís Valente. Partnerships and Information Management Museu Futebol Clube do Porto
– Steven Leeke – CEO The Vale Resort (Wales)
– Cristina Tallardà – Director Sport No Limit

13:00 – 14:00 CLOSING SESSION: THE 1st WORLD SPORTS TOURISM CONGRESS

CONCLUSIONS:
– Narcís Ferrer i Ferrer, director of the Catalan Tourism Agency

CLOSING PARLIAMENTS (order of parliaments to be confirmed according to attending authorities)
– Jaume Dulsat i Rodríguez, Mayor of Lloret de Mar
– Ion Vilcu, director of affiliate members of the World Tourism Organisation
– Anna Caula i Paretas, Secretary General for Sport of the Government of Catalonia

14:00 – 15:30 Lunch

Afternoon sessions (optional)

15:30 – 16:30 Technical visits

Programme

DAY 25

DAY 26

CONCLUSIONS

Summary of the proceedings, case studies and the key lessons

CONTACT

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