SPORTS TOURISM AND ITS ROLE IN DEVELOPING TOURISM DEMAND-GULF CHAMPIONSHIP 25 AS A MODEL

Abstract

The research aims to highlight the role that sports tourism can play in developing tourism demand in Iraq by moving toward hosting international sporting events to advance this sector, which can achieve the desired economic growth. Hosting sporting events motivate the government to work hard to develop sports infrastructure and tourist and hotel facilities to make the event meet the expectations of visitors. So we decided to highlight the Gulf Championship 25 in Basra and the benefit comes from its experience, which is considered a successful experience despite the governorate's lack of infrastructure services, whether in the field of roads and transportation, as well as the hotel sector and entertainment services. The research found that the sports tourism in Iraq, despite the natural capabilities that has and despite the efforts made to upgrade the sector, did not meet the required level compared to neighboring countries, which requires decision-makers to work hard to upgrade the tourism and sports infrastructure to host international sports tournaments because they play a major role in develops the economy and marketing the country, as well as encouraging Gulf and Arab capital to invest and trying to enter into a partnership between Iraqi and Gulf investors, which will achieve a real and inevitable change for the advancement of sports tourism in Iraq.