Sports tourism has quietly become one of the most dynamic engines of the global travel economy. Estimates place the market in the $600–870 billion range in 2024–25, with projections crossing $2 trillion by the early 2030s. Fans today are not just buying tickets; they are building entire journeys around live sport, combining matches with cultural experiences, food trails, concerts, and soft adventure.
Major global tournaments have shown how powerful this sector can be. EURO 2024 in Germany generated billions in direct and indirect impact, while the Rugby World Cup 2023 in France delivered significant tourism and hospitality revenue. Cricket’s T20 World Cup 2024 extended the phenomenon to new markets, proving that sport can redefine destination branding for years beyond the event itself. Increasingly, events are packaged like festivals, pairing competition with music, fashion, and lifestyle, which attracts both core fans and casual travellers.
India is uniquely placed to ride both sides of the sports tourism wave. Outbound, a fast-expanding middle class is travelling in large numbers to cricket World Cups, Wimbledon, Formula One races, rugby tournaments, and football leagues. Inbound, India’s own event calendar, from cricket to marathons to emerging formats like kabaddi, is drawing international interest.
Policy is also aligning with ambition. The Ministry of Tourism has identified adventure and sports tourism as key growth pillars. States are designing destination portfolios that combine natural assets with sport, from winter activities in Kashmir to beach sports in Kerala and Goa, and mountain adventure events in Uttarakhand. India’s domestic sports tourism market was valued at close to $39 billion in 2023 and is growing at nearly 20% annually. Even allowing for conservative estimates, this growth curve is remarkable.
The shift from spectator to traveller is changing expectations. Fans want seamless access to tickets and hospitality, with official, fraud-free pathways. They want more than the match itself: stadium tours, training-ground visits, heritage walks, and curated itineraries that turn a 90-minute game into a multi-day experience. Younger audiences look for sustainable practices and community connection, while also seeking content-rich journeys that can be shared on digital platforms.
In India, Fanatic Sports has been a pioneer in packaging official sports travel experiences, from ICC events to the FIFA World Cup, building trust with fans by working closely with rights holders and delivering high-quality itineraries. RevSportz, with its editorial credibility and storytelling strength, complements this by adding context, athlete perspectives, and content that inspires participation.
Together, they are championing this new frontier through Destination Sports, a show focused on sports and tourism. The programme will showcase global destinations through the lens of sport, unpack the economics and culture of fan travel, and guide Indian audiences on how to unlock these experiences for themselves. It also shines a light on how Indian cities and states can build their own sports-tourism ecosystems and compete globally.
For India, the way forward is clear: build city-level event portfolios that spread demand through the year, invest in travel-grade venues with mixed-use facilities, and create fan pathways that make official hospitality the norm. Smaller formats, women’s sport, and emerging leagues can broaden the base and attract new travellers. Content will remain the connective tissue, turning one-time visitors into long-term brand ambassadors for both the sport and the destination.
Sports tourism is no longer a niche add-on. It is a mainstream driver of both the global travel economy and the future of fan culture. With Destination Sports, RevSportz and Fanatic Sports are not just documenting this movement. they are shaping it for India and beyond.
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