India’s premier sports experiences and travel platform, DreamSetGo, has released its inaugural year-end sports wrap-up report, the “DreamSetGo’s Sports Travel Index 2023.” Showcasing a 30% surge in sports travelers since the pandemic, the report details the increasing appetite for sports travel and luxury experiences, driven in part by the phenomenon of ‘revenge travel.’ The insights derive from DreamSetGo’s booking and demand data spanning January to December 2023.
A notable trend is the rise in demand from Tier-II cities for outbound sports tourism, with Mumbai taking the lead, followed by Delhi, Bangalore, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Jaipur. Monish Shah, Founder & Chief Business Officer, emphasizes the industry’s growth, stating, “Post the pandemic, sports tourism has emerged as the first sector within tourism to recover.” Anticipating a 200% growth in premium sports travel in 2024, Shah points to major events like the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup and the Olympic Games Paris 2024 as catalysts.
India’s journey towards becoming a global sports powerhouse is evident, with a surge in interest in outbound international sports like football, rugby, golf, kabaddi, badminton, and basketball. DreamSetGo looks forward to offering unique experiences to Indian sports travelers in 2024.
Catering to a broad range of inbound and outbound sports experiences globally, DreamSetGo reveals that the Cricket World Cup topped the charts as the most in-demand sporting experience in 2023 (60%), followed by Tennis Grand Slam events (16%), Motorsport races (12%), Domestic Cricket events (8%), and Rugby World Cup (4%).
Luxury offerings take center stage, with hospitality tickets ranking as the most coveted, followed by legend meet and greets. The demographics of sports travelers have shifted post-pandemic, with millennials aged between 35-50 prioritizing experiences over ownership. This group focuses on personalized and experiential travel, particularly with access to premium events like the Olympic Games Paris 2024.
DreamSetGo’s booking data reveals that sports icons like Virat Kohli, Sachin Tendulkar, Neeraj Chopra, Rohit Sharma, Mary Kom, PV Sindhu, and Harmanpreet Kaur continue to be favorites among Indian sports fans.
The UK secured the top spot as the most booked global sports destination in 2023, followed by Paris, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and Baku. DreamSetGo anticipates the USA, the Caribbean, and Australia to gain popularity in 2024.
Looking ahead, major events like the Olympic Games Paris 2024, the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and the India vs Australia cricket series are expected to drive significant demand. Sports tourism is experiencing explosive growth, projected to reach $2.14 trillion by 2030, with a remarkable 17.5% compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
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