The growing sports tourism sector took centre stage at the Global Tourism Economy Forum in Macau, SAR with the first ‘SPORTSTECH’ edition of the UN World Tourism Organisation’s Tourism Tech Adventures initiative celebrating the most disruptive ideas and innovators from around the world.

As the World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) reports that rising numbers of tourists are travelling for sports or wellbeing, the competition was launched with the aim of identifying supporting start-ups that excel in a number of ways, including their potential for scaling-up and ability to help contribute to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

Within the framework of the Global Tourism Economy Forum, five finalists from the 1st UNWTO Sports Tourism Start-up Competition were invited to Macau for a special masterclass on pitching and attracting investment. The finalists faced-off in a ‘Start-Up Battlefield’ following sessions focused on the future of sports tourism and the potential for disruptive technologies to create value for tourism.

Opening the event, Zurab Pololikashvili, general-secretary of UNWTO said: “Tourism and sport create decent jobs, promote local culture and provide opportunities for SMEs and entrepreneurs. Sports tourism can also contribute to creating peace, sustainability and inclusiveness, building bridges between different countries and cultures.”

The five finalists that beat off strong competition from hundreds of start-ups from around the world to make it to Macau were Flyfoot (Lebanon), Inclusive Society Led by Persons with Disabilities (Japan), Oevit (US), WeFish (Spain), Runnin’ City (Belgium).