2023, Vol. 10, Issue 5, Part D

Sports tourism is an intricate phenomenon. It refers to travel, which involves either observing or participating in a sporting event while staying apart from the tourist’s usual environment. Sports tourism is a fast-evolving part of the tourism industry. It is traveling to a country or state and to participate in a sports event or just to watch the event. India which attracts both domestic and foreign tourists’ arrival is well connected with other states and countries. It has also the necessary infrastructure for conducting various types of sports and games. Several national and international sports and games are conducted in India. Indian sports fans encourage a variety of sports from track and field events, hockey, football, cricket, kabaddi, basketball, shuttle badminton, volley ball and tennis to name a few. More sports tourists visit India for participating in sports and to watch also as the country has bequeathed with grounds, hotels and other entertainment factors. Of late Kabaddi, IPL league, BPL league, Tennis tournaments, Football, Cricket and Kabaddi tournaments were held in India which attracted several sports enthusiasts. Though the Sports tourism is growing, it has few problems and prospects in India. The problems are language, few sports infrastructure facilities for certain games, less sponsorship facilities, low availability of sports kits and grounds, and a smaller amount of support from State Government and public sectors. The prospects are more tournaments are going to be conducted in the future in India as there are sports fans, sportsperson, coaches and other necessary facilities. In this research article, the researcher has tried her level best to comprehend the problems in India in sports tourism and has explored the avenues for prospects and suggestions. The warm hospitality of India, tourist friendly environment, blameless law and order, good administration of the State has enabled the sports organizers to conduct the sports event often. If the Sponsors, State Government, Public sectors and people try to motivate and encourage the various sports and games events, the country will go a long way in being called as Sports Capital of India.