足球之乡梅州：一只足球“踢”出老区文旅新活力｜粤动21城

Core Viewpoint - The city of Meizhou is leveraging its rich football culture and history to drive economic growth through sports tourism and events, particularly with the upcoming 15th Sports Games, aiming to integrate sports with tourism and local culture [2][11]. Group 1: Football Culture and History - Meizhou is known as the birthplace of modern football in mainland China, with a strong local football culture and a history dating back over a century [1][4]. - The city has produced notable football talents, including the legendary player Li Huitang, and has a high football participation rate, with 28.3% of the population engaged in the sport [4][5]. Group 2: Economic Impact of Football - In 2022, Meizhou's tourism received 1.7559 million visitors, a 6.56% increase year-on-year, generating a total revenue of 1.305 billion yuan, up 10.31% [2]. - The total scale of football-related consumption in Meizhou has approached 1.5 billion yuan, with over 400,000 fans attending matches since the local team joined the Chinese Super League [9]. Group 3: Event-Driven Economic Strategy - The "One Game Activates One City" initiative aims to enhance the integration of sports and tourism, creating new consumption scenarios around football events [10][12]. - Meizhou plans to develop a comprehensive football industry ecosystem, including training, education, and tourism, to boost local economic growth [8][12]. Group 4: Youth Development and Training - Meizhou has established a robust youth training system, sending 56 elite players to national training bases in the past three years, with 15 players selected for U-series national teams [6][5]. - The city is focused on creating a seamless educational pathway for young footballers, ensuring a steady supply of talent for professional teams [6][12]. Group 5: Future Prospects and Challenges - Despite its successes, Meizhou faces challenges in competing with first and second-tier cities due to resource limitations and the need for higher-level professional talent [11]. - The local government aims to enhance the visibility of Meizhou as a "Football Town" by promoting cultural elements alongside sporting events to attract more visitors and investment [11][12].