The former Chairman, Lagos State Sports Commission (LSSC), and the Head, Sports Policy Group, Kweku Tandoh on Tuesday at the NESG headquarters in Lagos called for more synergy between the sports and tourism sectors to boost the necessary infrastructure development.
The call was made at the NESG and Ministry of Youths and Sports Development Partnership Forum for a robust deliberation and recommendations on sports development in the country.
He said this would allow for a symbiotic relationship to fast track infrastructure development.
Tandoh submitted that sports and tourism collaborations would engender seamless bidding for major competitions and tournaments.
“There should be a lot of synergy between sports and tourism. In fact, there should be a sports desk in the tourism industry and the same should also be replicated in the sports industry.
“It is only through tourism and sports that our youths can be well engaged. When bidding for tournaments, there should be a tourism development consideration as part of the bid.
“The bid for tournaments encompasses knowing how much the hospitality sector can also accommodate the number of those coming. This includes hotels, cinemas and others.
“The Sydney Olympics organisers were the first to declare profit after the Games because they tagged it alongside tourism development and their nationals were well ready for it,” he said.
Tandoh noted that Australia had the highest post-event returns after the Sydney Olympics because of the appreciation of the country’s tourism agenda.
“Australia has the highest number of post-event returns to their country after the Sydney Olympics because the country was able to fuse tourism and sports.
“The government of Australia did a lot of sensitisation for the citizens on the expectations from the tournament and the high return on investment expected from the Games.
“The Australian government has been preparing the minds of the people for more than two years before the event because they saw the need to have the hospitality aspect.
“There is a need to have us, as a country, take a look at that template so as to develop our tourism sector together with sports for growth and development,” he said.
