Sports tourism drive gets boost

The Dubai Sports Council (DSC) has signed a Memorundum of Understanding (MoU) with the Department of Tourism and Commerce Marketing (DTCM) to take sports tourism to the next level. The MoU was signed by Hamad Mohammad Bin Mejren, Executive Director of Business Tourism at DTCM, and Dr Ahmad Sa\'ad Al Sharif, Secretary-General of DSC, at the DSC premises in Dubai yesterday. The DTMC official admitted that the presence of famous footballers such as Diego Maradona, Luca Toni and Fabio Cannavaro has boosted the image of Dubai as a sports destination. \"In 2009, we had a total of 24 international football teams using Dubai as a winter training base,\" Bin Mijren said. \"We have been exploring the possibilities of enhancing our efforts to promote Dubai as a sports destination in view of the enhanced facilities for hosting sporting events and also the ability to accommodate large number of visitors who come to participate and watch these tournaments and other events.\" He added: \"I am very happy to be here and represent DTCM in signing the MoU with the Dubai Sports Council. Sports is an integral part of tourism and holds a lot of growth potential for the promotion of Dubai as a year-round business and leisure destination. \"Since its establishment, the DTCM has supported many sporting events and activities. But today we have made a formal framework that will further strength this cooperation in all our events held in Dubai from now on.\" Bin Mijren further pointed out that countries around the world have between two and eight per cent of their income through sports tourism. \"But our partnership will now ensure that we get past this figure and this is the goal,\" he added. Al Sharif was pleased with the initiative, which will eventually propel Dubai even higher as a preferred choice for the sporting world. \"We have been involved in organising some of the best sports events on the international calendar in the past few years. And now to have the Dubai Tourism and Commerce Marketing as our partner, these events will get a much higher profile. This agreement is a win-win situation for both and Dubai will be the winner,\" he said.  From gulfnews