Tag Archives: 63% increase

According to Sports Tourists: Travelling with Passion, a white paper by GSIQ, a global sports and tourism insights agency and research partner of ATM 2026, frequent sports event travellers not only outspend traditional tourists but are also increasingly seeking premium, high-quality experiences. Highlighting the scale of the opportunity, the research also projects the sports tourism sector to representing a potential 63% increase in the number of people who intend to take a sports-related trip in the coming years in the coming years, delivering a substantial uplift for Middle East sports tourism, which PwC values at approximately US$600 billion, while globally, the market is expected to reach over US$2 trillion by 2030, redefining the shape of the global travel and tourism industry. Danielle Curtis, Exhibition Director ME, Arabian Travel Market, said: “By understanding the mechanics of sports tourism, destinations and tour operators can develop strategies to drive repeat visits, and attract new audiences. Ultimately, knowing what motivates sports fans to travel will determine how stakeholders meet evolving consumer expectations, to ensure sustained engagement and growth in this potentially lucrative market.” Sports tourists are primarily motivated by their passion for sport, but their travel decisions are strongly influenced by accessibility, affordability, quality and overall value. The white paper highlights that value remains a decisive factor, with 63% of respondents prioritising fair ticket and package pricing, particularly among newer sports travellers. Notably, while only 36% say a destination must already appeal to them, 41% are open to extending a sports-led trip into a longer leisure holiday. As a result, major sporting events act as a catalyst for destination growth, encouraging deeper exploration, longer stays and stronger word-of-mouth advocacy for host locations. Indeed, around 80% of …

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