Sports tourism market seen reaching $1.8 trillion by 2030

By AI, Created 3:25 PM UTC, May 22, 2026, /AGP/ – The global sports tourism market is projected to grow from $323.4 billion in 2020 to $1.8 trillion by 2030, driven by more sporting events, larger venues and rising demand for domestic travel. Europe leads by region, while football/soccer and passive sports tourism remain the biggest revenue drivers.

Why it matters: - The sports tourism market is scaling into a major travel and events category, with implications for hotels, restaurants, stadium operators and local economies. - The market’s projected growth suggests more spending tied to ticketing, travel packages and venue-related services over the next several years. - Domestic travel is expected to remain the biggest slice of the market, which matters for cities and regions investing in sports infrastructure.

What happened: - The global sports tourism market was valued at $323,420.0 million in 2020. - Allied Market Research projects the market will reach $1,803,704.0 million by 2030. - The forecast implies a CAGR of 16.1% from 2021 to 2030. - The report defines sports tourism as travel that includes observing or participating in a sporting event away from a traveler’s usual surroundings. - The report covers sports event tourism, celebrity and nostalgia sport tourism, and active sport tourism. - The market is segmented by product, type, category and region. - Product segments include football/soccer, cricket, motorsport, tennis and others. - Type segments include domestic and international travel. - Category segments include active and passive sports tourism. - Regional coverage includes North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and LAMEA.

The details: - Europe was the biggest regional market in 2020, at $119,018.6 million. - Europe is projected to reach $624,081.6 million by 2030, with a CAGR of 15.7%. - Football/soccer was the top product segment in 2020, with $97,891.6 million in revenue. - Football/soccer is forecast to reach $516,691.3 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 15.8%. - The domestic segment led the market in 2020 with $181,415.6 million. - Domestic sports tourism is projected to reach $987,090.7 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 16.1%. - The passive category had the largest share in 2020, at $190,844.4 million. - Passive sports tourism is expected to hit $1,046,683.0 million by 2030, at a CAGR of 16.2%. - Key players listed in the report include BAC Sports, QuintEvents, Sports Travel & Hospitality Group, MATCH Hospitality, THG Sports, Club Europe Holidays Ltd., Gullivers Sports Travel Limited, Inspiresport, DTB Sports Hospitality and Event Management Ltd. and Great Atlantic Sports Travel. - The report says more sporting events around the world are driving demand. - New tournaments in existing venues and new venues for existing tournaments are expanding the reach and appeal of sports. - The report links higher event volume to stronger demand for hotels and resort services. - Bigger seating capacities can lift ticket revenue and sports package sales. - A lack of financial support for franchisee teams may lead to event cancellation and restrain market growth. - The report identifies more fan zones as an emerging trend. - Fan zones may be built in host cities or in other cities and regions. - COVID-19 disrupted the market through flight cancellations, travel bans, quarantines, restaurant closures and bans on indoor events in more than 40 countries. - The report says the pandemic reduced demand volatility, cut business activity and increased uncertainty. - The report includes buying and inquiry links for the full study: Request the sample PDF and purchase inquiry.

Between the lines: - The market outlook is being pushed by structural demand, not a single event cycle, because the report ties growth to recurring sports calendars and infrastructure expansion. - Domestic travel leads because governments and venue operators are investing in local facilities, which can keep spending closer to home even as international travel recovers. - The emphasis on fan zones points to a broader shift toward event-led entertainment ecosystems, not just stadium attendance. - The COVID-19 section shows how exposed sports tourism is to travel restrictions and event shutdowns, which remain a risk if disruption returns.

What’s next: - More sporting events, larger venues and added fan zones are likely to keep supporting growth. - Hotel, resort and ticketing demand should rise as attendance increases. - Regional and product leaders may continue to be shaped by football/soccer, Europe and domestic travel. - The report suggests companies will keep using market data to guide partnerships, licensing, R&D and competitive positioning.

The bottom line: - Sports tourism is evolving from a niche travel segment into a large, fast-growing market powered by live events, infrastructure spending and fan demand.