The assumption made in this paper is that sports tourism provides significant benefits to destinations that include it in their development plans, especially outside the main tourist season.This paper starts from the assumption that sports tourism provides benefits to destinations that include it in their development plans, especially outside the main tourist season. In contemporary society, an increasing number of people recognize the importance of active leisure for maintaining good health. Given the fact that daily routines have become increasingly sedentary and stressful, the interest in active forms of vacation continues to grow. In this context, sports tourism stands out as an attractive option that allows people to engage in various sports activities while traveling. This paper emphasizes that the development of sports tourism brings numerous economic benefits, both direct and indirect. Direct benefits include revenue from sports events, accommodation costs, food, and other services, while indirect benefits include increased local economic activity, job creation, and infrastructure improvement. As the most developed tourist region, Istria possesses comparative advantages that open up opportunities for the development of sports tourism with the aim of extending the tourist season. Some examples of sports activities that stand out in the region are football training camps, tennis, hiking, and cycling tourism. Continuous monitoring of sports trends in the market and collaboration among all relevant stakeholders, coupled with further infrastructure development, can make Istria an even more competitive destination. This paper analyzes the current state of sports tourism in Istria, highlights its advantages, and identifies potential opportunities for further development.