III.5.3. Regional features

Sport tourism is part of the expansion of the space in modern life.  It is not by chance that in general sport tourism is considered one of the most significant branches of the economy in the 21st century. In addition, it is a factor of utmost significance  in regional and local development, too, since it contributes to local and national incomes, creates jobs, increases income from taxes and contributes to the improvement of other branches in the economy. The various sport events, as well as the opportunities for doing sport, attract tens of thousands of tourists to a specific place, a geographical region, and this fact may give impetus to economic development in general.

At the same time it is also obvious that the increaases interest in sport tourism is present only in the more developed and urbanized societies in North America, Europe and Australia. In addition to this feature cultural history, traditions and customs also play a role. By a survey of 2001, 55% of Germans,  52% of the Dutch, 23 % of the French and 20% of the British people take part in sport-motivated travels. According to a survey, conducted in Croatia, the motives of incoming sport was the 5th in the group of motivators,  when incoming tourists were asked.