BUILDING A NEW SPORTS TOURISM INFRASTRUCTURE IN NORTHERN CYPRUS

Northern Cyprus is a destination of choice for many tourists with its Mediterranean climate, clear sea, hot summers, mild winters and is one of the healthiest countries in the world. Sports tourism is a frequent reason for global travel in the twenty-first century, which means that strategically planned and structured sports activities can be an important investment towards developing a countries tourism industry. To discover whether Northern Cyprus can capitalise on the emergence of this type of tourism two hundred and forty questionnaires were administered to sport enthusiasts and participants to obtain their views on sport tourism. The results of the questionnaires indicate that a coordinated effort to improve the infrastructure for sports tourism (e.g., transportation and sport facilities) can make it possible for Northern Cyprus to achieve its tourism potential. In this paper it is suggested that the cities of Northern Cyprus formulate dynamic sport tourism project teams to strengthen their tourism industry. It is proposed that linking the relevant interested stakeholders with one another and extensive market research will begin the process of enhancing the tourism experience in each city.