Sport Tourism can be defined as any activity that attracts people to a location for sport. It is also considered to be the fastest growing grassroots economic development initiative in Canada today. The Canadian Sports Tourism Alliance (CSTA) estimates that over 200,000 sporting events are held annually in Canada, generating domestic sports travel expenditures of approximately $2.4 billion annually.

 

There are a variety of tangible benefits associated with hosting a sports event, which include: the development of legacies, increased economic development opportunities, increased community visibility, increased volunteerism and leadership capacity, increased infrastructure development, increased community spirit and the creation of new partnerships. Various stakeholders within the host region are brought together to ensure that these events are successfully undertaken, and partnerships often include municipal governments, economic development associations, local sporting associations, Chambers of Commerce and educational institutions.

 

The Annapolis Valley is well positioned to become a leader in sports tourism for Atlantic Canada. Many of the necessary partnerships and synergies have been created through the process that the region undertook to bid on the 2011 Canada Winter Games. While not successful in achieving that particular goal, the work and dedication of the working committee has unleashed new opportunities to raise the bar for sport tourism development throughout the Valley. In fact, the Valley has already accomplished a great deal of success in which to build on. Collectively, our region is home to the Annapolis Valley Apple Blossom Festival and we have hosted a variety of regional, provincial and national sports tournaments.

 

The Annapolis Valley region is home to a wide array of facilities, ranging from ski hills to hockey arenas to indoor soccer facilities. We also boast a variety of conference facilities and choices for local accommodation. The Valley also boasts state of the art facilities at Acadia University and CFB Greenwood, which makes our region very lucrative for potential events.