“Sports tourism gives travellers an opportunity to combine the joy of exploring new destinations while enjoying their favourite team or players in action, boosting local economies and tourism.”-Santosh Kumar
According to Booking.com’s Travel Trends data for 2024, 45% of global travellers want to travel for sports and attend events like the World Cup, Paris Olympics, Formula 1. This trend is especially strong in India, where nearly three-quarters (73%) plan to travel for international sporting events in 2024.According to Booking.com’s flight data, India is even among the top 5 Asian booker countries for the upcoming Paris Olympics 2024.
Sports fandom isn’t limited to international events. 76%of Indians would travel for local sports competitions and events in their home city or state and 70%expressed interest in travelling for national events like Indian Premier League, Pro Kabaddi, Indian Super League and more. Booking.com’s 2024 Travel Trends data shows that 23% of Indian travellers consider sporting events when choosing destinations. The excitement of the game, connecting with friends or family overseas and the opportunity for a holiday are key motivators for travelling to sports events.
Santosh Kumar, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com, said: “Sports tourism gives travellers an opportunity to combine the joy of exploring new destinations while enjoying their favourite team or players in action, boosting local economies and tourism. Easier visa access, improved connectivity and rising disposable incomes are some of the factors driving this trend. For all sports enthusiasts journeying across India and the world, Booking.com remains committed to enhancing their travel experiences by offering various travel components like rental cars, flights, attractions, and unique places to stay to create a comprehensive, integrated itinerary.”
