Globetrotting Sports Fans: Indian Enthusiasts Fuel Surge in Global Sporting
Indian sports enthusiasts flocking to global events surge bookings by 25–30%, reports The Economic Times. T20 World Cup, Wimbledon, and Formula One top the list.
MEDIA | SPORTS
18 April 2024
According to an article in The Economic Times (ET), Indian sports enthusiasts are flying around the globe in large numbers for sporting events, with bookings for important global sports events up 25–30% this year, according to data from Thomas Cook (India).
Rajeev Kale, president and country head for holidays, MICE, and Visa at Thomas Cook (India), stated that the company's data indicated "an increase of 25–30% in bookings for key global sporting events this year."
Kale stated that bookings are pouring in from Indian sports lovers ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held in the United States and the West Indies in June of this year. Throughout the year, bookings for Wimbledon in London, as well as Formula One events in Abu Dhabi, Singapore, and Bahrain, have increased significantly. According to Kale, the increase in disposable incomes could be the reason behind the surge in bookings.
"Besides corporate incentives and high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth leisure travelers, our data reveals strong demand emerging from younger professionals as well who are keen to tick off their bucket lists," he went on to say.
According to American Express's 2024 Global Travel Trends research, 29% of Indians intend to increase their frequency of travel to athletic events in 2024, exceeding the global average of 14%. Football (47%), Formula One (30%), and the 2024 Paris Olympics (24%), are the top sporting events that Indians plan to attend this year.