Watch Live: CityNews at Six Vancouver

Tourism Vancouver expecting to score big with the Women’s World Cup

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The first FIFA Women’s World Cup Canada games to be played in Vancouver kick off later today, and the biggest winner of the tournament could be the city’s tourism industry.

Last week, the City of Vancouver released its World Cup projections, estimating $36.7 million will be injected into the local economy.

“What’s wonderful about the Women’s World Cup, like any major sporting event, is that it also really shines a spotlight on Vancouver as a world-leading sports tourism destination,” says Amber Sessions with Tourism Vancouver.

“The event brings thousands of international players, officials and fans to Vancouver, all of who are staying in Vancouver hotels, eating in Vancouver restaurants, shopping, and sightseeing. But in addition to the direct spending, you also have the global PR that is generated.”

The final game of the 2011 Women’s World Cup in Germany drew an estimated TV audience of 60 million people and Tourism Vancouver hopes for the same kind of exposure when the 2015 final is played July 5th at BC Place.

“FOX Sports is in Vancouver, ARD Germany is here as well, and that kind of media coverage shines a spotlight on Vancouver, not only as a world-leading sports tourism destination but also as a wonderful place to vacation,” Sessions tells NEWS 1130.

She also believes that hosting the west coast portion of the World Cup makes it easier to attract future events.

“We are hosting the The World Rugby Sevens World Series, another huge event in March of 2016. We have the Americas Masters Games coming next summer. Every time you secure and successfully produce a major event like the Olympics or the FIFA Women’s World Cup, it’s a notch in your belt for securing future ones,” she tells us.

“We are hoping to get more events like this because they have a really amazing impact in terms of filling hotel rooms and increasing the economic impact of tourism.”

Today’s Group C games at BC Place start with Cameroon taking on Ecuador at 4 p.m., followed by Japan and Switzerland at 7 p.m.

Top Stories

Top Stories

Most Watched Today