Stick & Beach Ball: Polo Tourism On The Rise

The Sport of Kings is gaining mass appeal thanks to events like the Polo World Cup on South Beach.

Polo continues to gain mass appeal thanks to high profile events like London’s Polo in the Park or last month’s Polo World Cup on South Beach. The annual events, which both feature teams and sponsors from Argentina, is a prime example of how the Sport of Kings can be a key driver of tourism across classes, cultures and nationalities.

The heightened interest in polo is also leading many one-time spectators to pursue a more participatory role in the sport, and travel operators are taking note. London’s TTG says “Polo is no longer the reserve of the rich, as it grows as a spectator sport and for novices wanting to have a go themselves.”

TTG lists five countries that are cashing in on polo tourism and #1 on the list is Argentina. The Polo Championship in November kicks off a five-month window when polo reigns, and Argentine estancias like El Colibri and Los Potreros offer both clinics and private lessons for aspiring Cambiasos. “The UK is a key market for polo tourism, and one of the fastest growing niches in Argentina,” writes TTG adding, “Clients need not venture into the sticks, with ranches such as Villa Maria just outside the capital, and the Jumeirah Culu Culu resort opening this September.”

So if you’re ready to move beyond the Land Rover tailgate and become the next Nacho Figueras, Argentina is waiting for you. But in the interest of full disclosure, the Los Potreros website offers fair warning: “This could be the start of an extremely expensive habit!”