Mohammed Hersi . A hotelier passionate about Tourism & Governance in Africa

Berlin Marathon 2023, let’s talk numbers as I wear sports tourism lense.

For the past two weeks the build up to Berlin Marathon 2023 was hard to miss besides our very own Eliud Kipchoge will be attempting to break his own record. The race is currently underway and this Sunday I would like to look at this Marathon from the angle of sports tourism. My good friend CS Hon Ababu Namwamba and our tourism CS Hon Peninah Malonza let’s look at numbers from a commercial point.

While many will just be watching the race , this is busines and sports tourism is massive business. Berlin Marathon is not a small event .

Let’s talk numbers .

1. The event was sold out 45,000 runners and just about half of these numbers are Germans at 20,250.
2. The top 10 countries excluding Germany have a huge contigent 20069 broken down as follows

✅️USA. 5432
✅️Great Britain 3766
✅️China 2117
✅️France 1657
✅️Denmark 1478
✅️Brazil 1463
✅️Netherlands 1452
✅️Italy 1410
✅️Mexico 1294

These Marathon lovers are not traveling in their hundreds but in their thousands. These numbers are only the participants. I am sure each participant would have a partner or family accompanying them not to mention the fans who just travel to watch the Marathon in person.

3. To participate you must register and you pay €163 which means 45,000 runners paid €7,335,000 . At current exchange rate we are talking of Ksh 1.1B + only for registration.
4. Let’s even assume that all the Germans runners are from Berlin so they are not taking a hotel room . The remaining 24,000 we are talking of no less 15,000 hotel rooms occupied in Berlin. If a hotel has on average 150 rooms it means 100 hotels will be 100% occupied. How many hotels do we have in Nbi ? Let those numbers sink in.
5. They also hold a Marathon Expo for 3 days which means minimum nights to help you climitise will be 3 days and more. At this Expo they sell many extras . Eg BMW BERLIN-MARATHON-Package where you get 20 min Massage 1 adidas Event-Shirt 1 medal engraving for € 60,-

Medal engraving and have your your personal finisher time engraved in your medal in the finish area – hassle-free at € 12,

++++ many others that would include pre & post marathon tours .

6. All hotels in Berlin like any busy city sell you a bed & breakfast package. Rest of the meals you either eat in the hotels Ala carte outlets or venture out to the hundreds of eateries across Berlin.

Finally don’t forget this is a sponsored event by none other than BMW which means they pay big money to be the main sponsor.

When the Marathon ends many of the visitors will stay on to enjoy sights and sounds of Berlin which means more forex inflow from around the world.

Kenya is home to world beating athletes and there is no reason why Nairobi cannot think out of box and aggressively promote a Marathon.

Well figures don’t lie but for all that to happen first thing first ease of acess is key. The top 10 countries majority did not require a visa to travel to Berlin and if they did it would also be issued on arrival or get it online with ease.

Many flights to Berlin means cheaper air ticket. When you block airlines it means less choice higher price . It’s simple economics at play.

The city fathers Berlin take the front seat to enable the event while national Goverment pull strings from the back.

What are your thoughts , let’s engage and I will be happy to see your comments and view.

As always I choose to remain an optimist.

Mohammed Hersi
Chairman
Diani Hospitality Owners Association