Airbnb statistics show that "sports tourism" is booming in Australia.
Research from YouGov shows that 70% of Australians said they would travel domestically to spectate or participate in a sporting event.
“Millennials are leading the pack with 78% having travelled for sport in the past six months, while Gen Z are particularly keen on following the Lions rugby tour,” Airbnb country manager for Australia and New Zealand, Susan Wheeldon said.
Around two-thirds of New South Wales residents plan to travel for sport, compared to 61% of Queenslanders and 58% of Victorians. Overall, 59% of Australians have travelled or plan to travel before the end of the year.
YouGov says Sydney is the top destination for sporting events, closely followed by Melbourne.
According to the data, Australians are willing to spend an average of A$108 per night on accommodation, generating a ripple effect that boosts local economies.
“Group bookings are particularly popular with people opting to stay together for events such as the men’s Ashes in Brisbane,” Wheeldon said.
“Groups then spend money [in] local cafes, pubs and restaurants and so it’s the community who reaps the benefits while fans save money by splitting the cost of a large property – something that is a key benefit of Airbnb.”
Expedia Group has also found that sport tourism accounts for 10% of global tourism spending and spending is estimated to reach $1.4 trillion by 2032.
Expedia respondents said they'd spend more than $2500 across various trip elements and some are willing to travel internationally.
One Australian sports event that attracted many travellers was the TCS Sydney Marathon.
“With 35,000 participants and many travelling from interstate or overseas, there are a huge number of runners looking for accommodation,” CEO and race director of the TCS Sydney Marathon, Wayne Larden said.
“And often they are travelling with family or friends, so an Airbnb is a much more convenient and cost-effective way for them to travel [to] the event.”
Other sporting events domestically that have attracted many travellers include the men's Ashes series, the AFL Grand Final, and the NRL State of Origin.
