Sports travel sluggish but gathering pace across the country

China's investments in overseas soccer and basketball teams may be on the rise, but it will be some time before the Chinese people begin to travel abroad in large numbers to watch big sporting events, according to tourism industry observers.

Proof of this lukewarm response to mega sports events is in the fact that less than 3,000 Chinese will visit Rio de Janeiro for this month's Olympics.

Tourists from advanced countries typically travel in several thousands, cramming their tour itineraries with sports events as well as visits to travel hotspots in the country concerned.