Global Sports Tourism Market Overview
Sports Tourism Market Size was valued at USD 600.5 Billion in 2022. The Sports Tourism Market industry is projected to grow from USD 709.7 Billion in 2023 to USD 2704.3 Billion by 2032, exhibiting a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18.20% during the forecast period (2023 - 2032). The increasing prevalence of obesity, the rising disposable income of consumers, and the growing importance of fitness among the younger population are expected to be significant market driver for the Sports Tourism Market.
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Sports Tourism Market Trends
- Rising growth in the sports industry and the increase in women’s team participation in various leagues and tournaments in Sports Tourism is driving the market growth
Market CAGR for Sports Tourism is being driven by the rising growth in the sports industry and the increase in women’s team participation in various leagues and tournaments. The sports industry, being the largest entertainment sector ly, has a positive impact on the economy, with football, basketball, baseball, hockey, cricket, and soccer emerging as the most popular sports played and watched internationally. Additionally, the sports tourism market is influenced by significant advertising and offerings provided by sports tour companies, contributing to increased tourism in specific regions or sports, and fostering growth during the forecast period.
In recent years, there has been the introduction of numerous sports tournaments dedicated to women. For example, Cricket Australia introduced the Women's Big Bash League in 2015-16, and the Indian Premier League introduced the women's edition in 2018. Furthermore, established women's sports tournaments and leagues are experiencing a rise in women's team participation. This surge in the number of introduced tournaments and increased participation by women's teams across various leagues and tournaments is expected to propel the sports tourism industry's growth. Additionally, the International Hockey Federation initiated the Men's FIH Pro League, an international men's field hockey competition, in 2019, which has been organized annually since then. According to the German Olympic Sports Federation (DOSB), sports funding through the Federal Ministry of the Interior for Building and Home Affairs (BMI) increased from USD 334 million (Euro 279 million) to USD 351 million (Euro 293 million) in 2021. As a result, it is anticipated that throughout the projection period, demand for the Sports Tourism Market will increase due to the rising growth in the sports industry and the increase in women’s team participation in various leagues and tournaments. Thus, driving the Sports Tourism Market revenue.
Sports Tourism Market Segment Insights
Sports Tourism Market Product Insights
The Sports Tourism Market segmentation, based on Product includes Football/Soccer, Cricket, Motorsport, Tennis, and Others. The football/soccer segment dominated the market, accounting for 58% of market revenue. The growing prevalence of soccer can be linked to the hosting of leagues and major soccer tournaments worldwide. The increasing popularity of soccer players through social media marketing and television advertising, improved training for soccer games, easy accessibility to soccer equipment, and other factors are anticipated to contribute to the revenue growth of the segment in the forecast period.
Sports Tourism Market Type Insights
The Sports Tourism Market segmentation, based on Type includes Domestic and International. The domestic segment dominated the market, accounting for 58% of market revenue (348.2 Billion). The growing popularity of sports like cricket, football, and soccer has resulted in the organization of numerous tournaments across various countries. For example, India hosts the Pro Volleyball League and the Indian Premier League for cricket matches. Furthermore, factors such as increasing disposable income, a rising population, enhanced infrastructure, and government investments and funding for the promotion and hosting of sports events are anticipated to be key contributors to the substantial revenue growth of this segment over the forecast period.
Figure 1: Sports Tourism Market, by Type, 2022 & 2032 (USD Billion)
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Sports Tourism Market Category Insights
The Sports Tourism Market segmentation, based on Category includes Active and Passive. The active segment dominated the market, accounting for 60% of market revenue. Recently, the Indian Government has initiated the promotion of nostalgic-based sports such as kabaddi, jallikattu, tug of war, etc. This emerging trend is gaining traction among foreign tourists, and although the current number of visitors is relatively low, there is a significant and growing interest. The growth can be attributed to the increasing preference among millennials and younger adults who enjoy watching well-known popular games. Additionally, there is a shift in preferences among older generations who now favor nostalgic-based game events. Active sports also encompass sports events that draw large crowds from around the world.
Sports Tourism Market Regional Insights
By region, the study provides market insights into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. The anticipated expansion of the Sports Tourism market in North America can be attributed to several key factors. The surge in athletic events is anticipated to positively impact the tourism industry, attracting more visitors to sports facilities and boosting the demand for sports tourism in the United States. This upswing is particularly influenced by major sporting events like the NFL and NBA. While certain sports, such as cricket, may not be as widely popular in the region, efforts are underway to invest in infrastructure for their development. An example is the Major Cricket League (MCL), slated to receive a substantial investment of US$120 million for establishing facilities in key cities like Philadelphia, New York, Miami, and San Francisco. According to the Statista Digital Market Outlook of 2023, the revenue from the sports events tickets market in the United States surpassed 14 billion U.S. dollars in 2022.
Further, the major countries studied in the market report are the US, Canada, Germany, France, the UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil.
Figure 2: SPORTS TOURISM MARKET SHARE BY REGION 2022 (USD Billion)
Source: Secondary Research, Primary Research, MRFR Database and Analyst Review
Europe Sports Tourism Market accounts for the second-largest market share as Europe dominated the sports tourism market, holding the largest share of revenue due to the increasing number of athletes, sports events, and visitors. The major markets in Europe, including Germany, France, and the U.K., exhibit the highest potential in the region. Despite the smaller population sizes in Austria, Denmark, Finland, and Spain, citizens from these countries display a higher propensity to travel for sports-related activities. In 2022, the sports sector in the EU employed 1.51 million people, constituting 0.8% of total employment. This reflects a 10.9% increase in the number of people employed in the sports sector compared to 2021 (1.36 million). Further, the German Sports Tourism Market held the largest market share, and the UK Sports Tourism Market was the fastest-growing market in the European region.
The Asia-Pacific Sports Tourism Market is expected to grow at the fastest CAGR from 2023 to 2032. China and India are playing a positive role in the industry's growth, driven by factors such as the expanding sports events sector, rising per capita income, a growing middle-class population, and increased disposable income. The Indian sports industry experienced a remarkable 49% growth in 2022, surpassing โน14,000 crore in revenue, compared to around โน9,530 crore the previous year. Media spending for the Indian sports industry also increased by 26% in 2022, reaching โน7,553 crore, up from โน6,018 crore in the preceding year. Furthermore, substantial growth in the popularity of international sports events like the Cricket World Cup and Tokyo Olympics is anticipated to further propel market growth. Moreover, China’s Sports Tourism Market held the largest market share, and the Indian Sports Tourism Market was the fastest-growing market in the Asia-Pacific region.
Sports Tourism Market Key Market Players & Competitive Insights
Leading market players are investing heavily in research and development to expand their product lines, which will help the Sports Tourism market, grow even more. Market participants are also undertaking a variety of strategic activities to expand their footprint, with important market developments including new product launches, contractual agreements, mergers and acquisitions, higher investments, and collaboration with other organizations. To expand and survive in a more competitive and rising market climate, the Sports Tourism industry must offer cost-effective items.
Manufacturing locally to minimize operational costs is one of the key business tactics used by manufacturers in the Sports Tourism industry to benefit clients and increase the market sector. In recent years, the Sports Tourism industry has offered some of the most significant advantages to the local economies, businesses, and the overall promotion of sports and cultural exchange. Major players in the Sports Tourism Market, including TravelOsports, MATCH Hospitality, Club Europe Holidays Ltd., Sports Travel & Hospitality Group, Sportsnet Corporation Pty Ltd., QuintEvents, Gullivers Sports Travel Limited, BAC Sports, Inspiresport Group Limited, DTB Sports Hospitality and Event Management Ltd are attempting to increase market demand by investing in research and development operations.
BAC Sport is a reputable and well-established provider of customized sports travel and hospitality services, boasting 25 years of experience in crafting packages for individuals, corporations, concierge, and incentive agencies. Additionally, the company specializes in organizing travel and logistics for the England Football Media. BAC Sport offers tailor-made packages for a diverse range of sports, including Formula One, rugby, tennis, golf, and football, catering to both domestic and international sporting events. As an ATOL-protected entity, BAC Sport takes pride in being the preferred sports tour operator for prominent clients such as American Express, Travel Group, Hays Travel, and Travel Counsellors. The company is also a registered supplier for Ten Lifestyle Group and its members, along with several other concierge companies.
DTB is a London-based company specializing in offering client entertainment solutions, which encompass hospitality and ticket options, as well as tailored event management services. Originally established in August 2002 as a sports hospitality and bespoke event brokerage with a background in sports marketing, DTB has evolved to become a provider of client entertainment solutions for a diverse range of events, both domestically and internationally. Leveraging an extensive network of established connections and partnerships, DTB Sports and Events serves as a single point of contact for busy individuals seeking to book corporate hospitality and tickets for events worldwide. The company excels in delivering hospitality packages for major sporting and cultural events, with the specific components varying based on the nature of each event and offering limitless combinations.
Key companies in the Sports Tourism Market include
- TravelOsports
- MATCH Hospitality
- Club Europe Holidays Ltd
- Sports Travel & Hospitality Group
- Sportsnet Corporation Pty Ltd
- QuintEvents
- Gullivers Sports Travel Limited
- BAC Sports
- Inspiresport Group Limited
- DTB Sports Hospitality
- Event Management Ltd
Sports Tourism Industry Developments
November 2022: In November 2022, starting from January 2023, Inspirport, a leading UK provider of youth sports development tours, will enter into an exclusive collaboration with Cricket Scotland. The company has recently introduced The R66T Festival of Cricket and The R66T Dubai Cup, along with providing domestic tours to Lancashire Cricket.
September 2022: In September 2022, Gullivers Sport Travel, the Group Travel Specialist, revealed a one-year partnership where Waratahs Alumni will host four sports travel tours during the Rugby World Cup in France, featuring Darren Coleman, Phil Waugh, Tony Dempsey, and Ian Kennedy.
Sports Tourism Market Segmentation
Sports Tourism Market Product Outlook
- Football/Soccer
- Cricket
- Motorsport
- Tennis
- Others
Sports Tourism Market Type Outlook
Sports Tourism Market Category Outlook
Sports Tourism Market Regional Outlook
- North America
- Europe
- Germany
- France
- UK
- Italy
- Spain
- Rest of Europe
- Asia-Pacific
- China
- Japan
- India
- Australia
- South Korea
- Australia
- Rest of Asia-Pacific
- Rest of the World
- Middle East
- Africa
- Latin America
Report Attribute/Metric |
Details |
Market Size 2022 |
USD 600.5 Billion |
Market Size 2023 |
USD 709.7 Billion |
Market Size 2032 |
USD 2704.3 Billion |
Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) |
18.20% (2023-2032) |
Base Year |
2022 |
Market Forecast Period |
2023-2032 |
Historical Data |
2018- 2022 |
Market Forecast Units |
Value (USD Billion) |
Report Coverage |
Revenue Forecast, Market Competitive Landscape, Growth Factors, and Trends |
Segments Covered |
Product, Type, Category, and Region |
Geographies Covered |
North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World |
Countries Covered |
The US, Canada, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, China, Japan, India, Australia, South Korea, and Brazil |
Key Companies Profiled |
TravelOsports, MATCH Hospitality, Club Europe Holidays Ltd., Sports Travel & Hospitality Group, Sportsnet Corporation Pty Ltd., QuintEvents, Gullivers Sports Travel Limited, BAC Sports, Inspiresport Group Limited, DTB Sports Hospitality and Event Management Ltd |
Key Market Opportunities |
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย Growing inclination towards sports and large sports events in many countries |
Key Market Dynamics |
ยทย ย ย ย ย ย ย ย The rise in the number of athletic events throughout the world |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) :
The Sports Tourism Market size was valued at USD 600.5 Billion in 2022.
The Sports Tourism Market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 18.20% during the forecast period, 2023-2032.
North America had the largest share of the market.
The key players in the market are TravelOsports, MATCH Hospitality, Club Europe Holidays Ltd., Sports Travel & Hospitality Group, Sportsnet Corporation Pty Ltd., QuintEvents, Gullivers Sports Travel Limited, BAC Sports, Inspiresport Group Limited, DTB Sports Hospitality and Event Management Ltd
The Domestic segment dominated the market in 2022.
The Active segment had the largest share in the market.