25-30% more Indian fans flying across globe for key sporting events in 2024

Data from Thomas Cook (India), as reported in The Economic Times (ET), reveals a substantial surge of 25-30% in bookings for prominent global sporting events this year. President and country head for holidays, MICE, and Visa at Thomas Cook (India), Mr. Rajeev Kale, highlights a notable rise in bookings ahead of the T20 World Cup 2024 in the US and West Indies, with significant interest also observed for events like Wimbledon and Formula One races in various destinations. This surge is attributed partly to increased disposable incomes among travellers and a growing trend among younger professionals to tick off items from their bucket lists, aside from corporate incentives and high-net-worth leisure travellers.

Additionally, insights from the 2024 Global Travel Trends report by American Express underscore a robust inclination among Indian travellers, with 29% expressing a desire to elevate their participation in sporting events travel—a figure exceeding the global average. Notably, football, Formula One, and the 2024 Paris Olympics emerge as the top preferences among Indian sports enthusiasts. Reflecting on this trend, Founder and CEO of Fanatic Sports, Mr. Raghav Gupta notes a significant 30% year-on-year growth in sports travel bookings from India, with exciting bespoke experiences like VIP dinners and meet-and-greet opportunities with sporting icons enhancing the allure of such journeys.

Disclaimer: This information has been collected through secondary research and IBEF is not responsible for any errors in the same.