Sportcations are being tipped as ‘the’ next big travel trend, as travellers globally look for more active trips—and agents and operators say it’s catching on locally.
Recent Trip.com group data shows that searches for active sports experiences are up more than 30% year-on-year, with diving ranking as the most-booked sporting experience, followed by activities such as ziplining, paragliding, skydiving and cycling.
The travel figures rank Thailand as the top sporting destination, especially for cycling, climbing and water sports, with China, Australia, New Zealand and Malaysia also proving popular, adds the on-line platform.
. . . Locally
For Kiwi travellers, fitness competitions, snow sports and walks are among the active getaways in demand, with destinations including Australia, Canada, America, Japan and Europe.
House of Travel Lower Hutt owner-operator Kelly-Ann Thomas says she’s seeing more travel around fitness competitions, with Kiwis travelling ‘far and wide’ to participate in these. “Hyrox is one example of a fast-growing global event that my customers are booking to compete in, particularly across Australia and the US,” she says.
At the same time, snow specialist Travel & Co gm Rhiannon Grieve says the company is definitely seeing an increase in active experiences around its usual ski-in/ski-out holidays, adding that Kiwis are combining a couple of weeks skiing/ snowboarding with experiences such as snowmobiling, dog sledding, snowshoeing and even ice fishing.
. . . All Ages
UTracks says the sportcation trend is not limited by age, with its gm New Zealand Natalie Tambolash adding that Kiwi travellers in their 60s, 70s and 80s are taking on some of Europe’s great walks, from the Camino to the Dolomites.
“They enjoy being active and want to keep experiencing the world on foot, whatever their age.”
Tambolash adds that, for many of UTracks’ travellers, the goal is to still be actively travelling as they get older.
