Indian Sports Fans Flocking to Global Sporting Events in Record Numbers: Thomas Cook Data
Indian sports fans are taking their love for sports to a whole new level by traveling across the globe in huge numbers for key global sporting events. According to data from Thomas Cook (India), bookings for sporting events have seen a surge of 25-30 per cent this year, as reported by The Economic Times (ET).
Rajeev Kale, president and country head for holidays, MICE, and Visa at Thomas Cook (India), stated that there has been a significant uptick in bookings for key global sporting events this year. With the upcoming T20 World Cup 2024 in the US and West Indies, Indian sports fans are eagerly booking their tickets. Additionally, there has been a surge in bookings for events like Wimbledon in London and Formula One races in Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and Bahrain throughout the year.
The rise in disposable incomes among Indian sports fans could be a contributing factor to the increased bookings, according to Kale. He also mentioned that there is strong demand from younger professionals who are eager to tick off their bucket lists by attending these prestigious sporting events.
The 2024 Global Travel Trends report from American Express revealed that 29 per cent of Indians plan to increase their travel frequency for sporting events this year, exceeding the global average. Football, Formula One, and the 2024 Paris Olympics are among the top events that Indians are looking forward to attending.
Raghav Gupta, founder and CEO of Fanatic Sports, noted that there has been an exponential demand for sports travel from India, with bookings growing by about 30 per cent year-on-year. Exciting experiences like VIP dinners with celebrities and meet and greets with sports legends are being organized to enhance the overall sports travel experience for Indian fans.
With sports tourism rapidly evolving as a fast-growing segment within the broader tourism industry, companies like Mastercard and Yatra Online Limited are also gearing up to provide unforgettable experiences for sports fans. The future looks bright for sports travel, with expectations of a 10-15 per cent growth in this segment in the coming year. Indian sports fans are truly taking their passion for sports to new heights by traveling the world to witness their favorite sporting events live.