The Olympics and the Rugby World Cup are as big as international sporting events get and occur only once every four years, rotating host countries every year. Therefore, Australia does not depend solely on events such as these to keep the sports tourism industry wheels turning. In fact, it is quite the opposite. Each year Australia hosts many annual events that attract attention and bring visitors from around the globe. These events provide Australia as a whole, but more particularly the regions that them all the benefits that the international spotlight brings.

First and foremost, what is actually being considered as a “major sporting event”? On the largest end of the spectrum, hosting the Olympic Games is the pinnacle of major sporting events. On a more broad sense, any one specific sporting event that attracts the attention of domestic and international media, business, and public interest is considered a “major sporting event”.

The beauty of the connection between Australian tourism and major international sporting events is that these events give the country an opportunity to invite people from around the world to come and experience the culture. There is no doubt of the importance of the tourism industry to the Australian economy, and this essay has showed the importance of major sporting events to the Australian tourism industry. The interrelatedness between sport and tourism has proved to be a very powerful tool for Australia to exhibit itself as a unique and exciting holiday destination on the world stage.

Australia plays host to many annual events each year such as the Formula One Grand Prix, Spring Racing Carnival, and the Australian Open Tennis Championships. Australia has also established itself among the leaders in attracting some of the largest international sporting events such as the Olympic Games in 2000 and the Rugby World Cup in 2003. The link between events such as these and tourism is actually quite significant. According to Jackie Kelly; “Sporting events are now a recognized niche tourism market with significant growth potential”. Each of these specific events has the potential to bring not only direct economic value to its host location, but also to provide the more lasting effects that extensive media coverage can provide.

Besides the benefits of increased international media exposure that will have long-term effects on tourism, these events bring a lot of money and tourists in during the events themselves. No matter who walks away with the trophy at the end of the tournament, the Australian economy is set to be the big winner of the 2003 Rugby World Cup. Experts have said that the Australian economy is set to receive a boost of around $1 billion , of which $300 million will come directly from tourists. In fact, Citigroup Australia believes that the tourist visiting for the Rugby World Cup represent an even more

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