Sports tourism body aims to boost economic growth

Sports tourism is fast emerging as the most dynamic driver of the global sports economy, and the Philippines is determined to seize this opportunity through the leadership of the National Sports Tourism–Inter Agency Committee under chairman Patrick “Pato” Gregorio.

In mature sporting markets such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and the European Union, sports contribute between 2 percent and 4 percent of gross domestic product and support approximately one in every 25 full-time jobs.

Major events like the Boston Marathon highlight the scale of this impact, with its 2024 edition generating $500 million for Massachusetts through tax revenues, vendor activity and visitor spending.

Gregorio underscored the importance of aligning the Philippines with these global benchmarks.

“Sports tourism gets the biggest pie in the sports economy. This is what we are trying to achieve, it’s the right strategy,” said Gregorio, pointing to the Committee’s role in coordinating government agencies, private sector partners, and local communities to ensure every hosting leaves a lasting legacy.

President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos signed Administrative Order  (AO) 38, creating the National Sports Tourism–Inter Agency Committee (NST-IAC) to spearhead the country’s sports tourism agenda.

The NST-IAC is tasked with crafting and promoting initiatives that align with national laws, overseeing bids and hosting of major international sporting events, and driving large-scale domestic activities to energize local economies.

It also ensures close collaboration among key agencies, including the Philippine Sports Commission, Department of Tourism (DoT), Department of the Interior and Local Government (DILG), Department of Budget and Management (DBM), Philippine Amusement and Gaming Corporation (PAGCOR), and the Tourism Infrastructure and Enterprise Zone Authority (TIEZA), alongside private sector partners.

DoT Secretary Christina Frasco, DILG Secretary Jonvic Remulla, DBM Secretary Rolando Toledo, PAGCOR chairman Alejandro Tengco and TIEZA chief operating officer Mark Lapid are solidly behind this initiative of President Marcos to accelerate sports tourism.

By institutionalizing this framework, AO 38 positions sports tourism as a pillar of national development, seen as a powerful tool to generate jobs, boost businesses, and project the Philippines as a premier destination on the global stage.

“We are looking forward to making each hosting bigger and better in the years ahead. Beyond the competition itself, this effort is about charging up the local economy and positioning our country as a global sports tourism driver,” said Gregorio, also the chairman of the Philippine Sports Commission.