Q.
Wow. Another incredible Tour de France. And how exciting to watch the yellow-jerseyed Tadej Pogačar battle Wout van Aert for the final stage win in Paris.

Some prefer to watch their favourite sporting events – Formula 1, The Olympics, Wimbledon … – from the comfort of a couch with a close-up view. But for others, the ultimate thrill is being able to travel to the site and watch the beloved event in person.

Are there any sporting events you yearn to see in person? What are sport tourists looking for in an ultimate destination experience?

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A.
This year, to learn more about the high stakes world of sports tourism, the Expedia Group surveyed 2,000 recent attendees from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, the U.S., and the UK. What did they find?

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• 44% journeyed to an international destination for their most recent travel sporting event.
• For 51%, the journey was for a single match or event

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Which sport was the biggest travel lure?
• Surprise 😉. The most recent sports trip for Canadians was centred on ice hockey (37%)
• Soccer won for those from the UK (64%), Germany (54%), Mexico (53%)
• For Japanese respondents, the most common last sports trip was baseball (26%)
• For Americans, it was football (24%)

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And what did sports travellers prioritize when planning their sports travel?
i.    Attending the sporting event itself. 69%
ii.   Spending time with family + friends. 47%
iii.  Experiencing the destination. 45%
iv.  Seeing a particular athlete. 26%
v.   Enjoying destination bars + restaurants. 26%

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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOOjWh7CxLo

www.justcurious.ca

Header Art: Alexander Mils