FINAL REPORT Sports Tourism Report the Cyprus Tourism
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- FINAL REPORT for Sports Tourism Report For the Year 2013 Prepared for The Cyprus Tourism Orgaization September 2014 CONTENTS Page 1. Main Findings 2 2. Appointment and Methodology 4 3. General Indicators: Total Level and Sports Activities 5 4. Results by Region 9 5. Sports Activities by Region 12 6. Seasonality 15 7. Nationality 20 8. Revenue 25 9. Other Sports Activities 27 1 Sports Tourism Report for the Year 2013 (Football, Cycling, Water Sports, Track and Field, and Diving) 1. Main Findings The total number of international sports related** visitors to Cyprus for the year 2013 was estimated at 20,803 visitors, which is an estimated 5% increase compared to the prior year (2012) when comparing visits for the common sporting activities measured for both years (2012 and 2013). The largest share of sports visitors to Cyprus were on account of Football (34% of visitors), while the second largest share of visits were for Diving (21% of visitors), followed by Cycling (17% of visitors) and finally for Swimming (15% of visitors). The average duration of stay measured in number of nights, at the total level for all sports activities, was estimated at 11.2 nights with the total number of nights for accommodation amounting to 215,645. The average duration of stay was found to be longest in the Larnaca region (14.9 nights average stay) while the shortest average duration of stay was recorded in the Nicosia region (2.9 nights average stay). Limassol (with 6,150 visitors), Ammohostos (with 4,619 visitors) and Pafos (with 4,320 visitors) were the three towns which accommodated the largest number of total sports visitors. On the other hand, Larnaca had the largest share of total nights for accommodation (27% of the total nights), with the Ammohostos region immediately in second place (capturing 26% of the total nights for accommodation) and Limassol in third place with 22% of the total nights for accommodation. Nicosia and Ammohostos were preferred as destinations for Football, even though the Larnaca region also recorded a relatively high share of Football visitation (30%) in its total share of visitors. On the contrary, the majority of sports visitors selecting Pafos as their destination were for Swimming and Water Sports (46% of its visitors), while sports visitors to Limassol were mainly involved in Diving and Cycling. The majority of sports visits to Cyprus were recorded in the months of February, March and April, which accounted for 45% of the total visits to the Island, and as a result of more intense visitations for Football, Marathon and Cycling sporting activities. 2 Russia, Great Britain and Germany were the main countries of origin of sports visitors to Cyprus in the year 2013, with the three mentioned countries accounting for 44% of the total sports visitors. The revenue from the Sports Tourism sector to the Cyprus economy for the year 2013, based on estimates taken from the sports activities included as part of the scope of the said study, was estimated at about 30,500,00 Euros. ** The aforementioned results concern only the sports activities included within the scope of the said study and do not represent the total value of the Sports Activities sector for Cyprus for the year 2013. The said results are indicative of the information provided, which allow for a representative estimation of the total market size and profile. It should also be noted that the information provided concerning the Cycling figures are very likely to be lower than the market reality due to the particularities of the specific sports activity and the subsequent difficulty in contacting visitors who visit Cyprus for this purpose as individuals (as opposed to being part of a larger group). 3 2. Appointment and Methodology The Cyprus Tourism Organization has appointed NOVERNA Analytics & Research for the collection of data that relate to the Sports Tourism industry for the year 2013. More specifically, the data collected for the study are regarding the number of visitors to the Island for sports activities and their respective occupancy details for the following sporting activities: Football, Swimming and and Water Sports, Cycling, Track and Field, Marathon, Triathlon and Diving. Furthermore, the information included in this report represent only the sporting activities included in the aforementioned list and do not represent the total number of visitors to the Island for Sporting Activities for the year 2013. The information collected and analysed for the sporting activities mentioned above include: The number of visitors The duration of stay and total nights accommodation The specific period and month of stay (seasonality) The geographic distribution of stay (by region) The visitor country of origin Information relating to costs and expenditure Regarding the term “sports visitors”, this term includes not only persons who have visited as part of a larger group coming to Cyprus but also persons who have visited as individuals or as supporters of their teams. With regards to the analysis, the information is presented for the current year of data collection (2013), after all the relevant data cleaning and vetting activities were carried out, as well as for the preceding years of 2012, 2011, 2010 and 2009. The data was collected by interviewing various types of sporting organizations and establishments via telephonic interviews, fax, e-mail, and face to face interviews, in accordance to the below sample structure: Contacted Provided information for Sports Tourism 3, 4 and 4 Star Hotels and A’ Class Tourist 210 55 Apartments Organizations/Federations and Sports 34 22 Facilities Tourist Operators and Organizers of Sporting 85 38 Activities Diving Centres 31 17 Total 360 132 4 3. General Indicators: Total Level and Sports Activities The total number of international visitors to Cyprus for sports related activities for the year 2013, included in the scope of the said study, was estimated at 20,803. The largest share of these visitors arrived on the Island for Football related activities (7,134 visitors), followed in second place by visitors for diving activities (4,317 visitors), the third largest share were for Cycling activities (3,555 visitors) and finally those visiting for Swimming activities constituted the fourth largest share (3,072 visitors). Regarding the Track and Field sports activities (which includes Track, Field, the Triathlon and the Marathon) the total number of visitors amounted to 2,725. Number of International Visitors to Cyprus for Sports Activities - 2013 Number of Visitors Total 20803 Diving 4317 Triathlon 397 Marathon 2217 Track 111 Cycling 3555 Swimming 3072 Football 7134 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 The 16,486 visitors represents an increase compared to the prior year (2012) when comparing visits for the common sports activities measured for both years (2012 and 2013). Furthermore, a significant increase was also recorded amongst those visiting for the Marathon sports activities (17% increase vis-à-vis 2012) and Football activities (13% increase vis-à-vis 2012). 5 It should further be noted that the figures regarding Cycling are very likely to be lower than the market reality due to the particularities of the specific sporting activity and the subsequent difficulty in contacting thos who visit for this purpose as individuals (as opposed to being part of a larger group). Tracking Comparison of International Visitors to Cyprus for Sports Activities Diving 4317 304 498 Triathlon 470 2010 - No. of Visitors 397 656 677 Marathon 1887 2217 2011 - No. of Visitors 705 348 Track 296 111 1690 2212 Cycling 3750 2012 - No. of Visitors 3555 587 Golf 2013 - No. of Visitors 2842 3226 Swimming 3044 3072 4587 5918 Football 6286 7134 0 2000 4000 6000 8000 In addition to the data collected for the year 2013, the Football sports activities captured the lion’s share of total visitors to Cyprus with 34%, followed by Diving with 21%, Cycling with 17% and Swimming with 15%, while the Triathlon and Track sports activities represent the smallest share of visitors with 2% and 1% respectively. 6 Share of Total Visitors by Sports Activity for 2013 21% 34% Football 2% Swimming Cycling Track 11% Marathon Triathlon 1% Diving 17% 15% 7 Based on the information collected for the year 2013, the average number of nights of accommodation at total level for all sports activities measured was estimated at about 11.2, with the total number of nights accommodation amounting to 215,645. Average Number of Nights of Accommodation and Total Nights Accommodated per Sports Activity Average Nights of Total Nights Accommodation Accommodation Total 11.2 215,645 Football 10.8 75,451 Swimming 10.2 31,999 Cycling 16.7 57,474 Track 7.0 500 Marathon/ Track 5.2 6,708 Triathlon 9.8 4,977 Diving 10.7 38,536 Based on these estimates, the Football sports activities also captured the lion’s share of total nights accommodation with 35% share of nights, followed by Cycling in second place with 27% share of nights and Diving activities in third place with 18% share. Share of Total Nights Accommodation for Sports Activities – 2013 18% Football 2% 35% 3% 1% Swimming Cycling Track Marathon Triathlon 27% Diving 15% 8 4. Results by Region Limassol (with 6,150 visitors) was the city recorded with the most sports related visitors for the year 2013, which is also a significant lead from the remaining cities, while considerably high were also the number of visitors to Ammohostos (with 4,619 visitors) and Pafos (with 4,320 visitors). Nicosia on the other hand recorded the least number of sports visitors with only 916 visitors. Number of International Visitors to Cyprus for Sports Activities by Region - 2013 Number of Visitors Total 20803 Unspecified 1538 Ammohostos 4619 Pafos 4320 Larnaca 3260 Limassol 6150 Nicosia 916 0 5000 10000 15000 20000 25000 For the common sports activities measured for 2012 and 2013, a 43% increase in the number of visitors was recorded in the Limassol and Ammohostos regions.