Golfers often travel to domestic and international locations to view and play the game. It's a $22B+ industry, expected to grow to $42B by 2030.

Sports tourism is a booming industry that benefits local economies. Even regional tournaments create huge opportunities for airlines, hotels, and resorts to grow traffic and revenue and for brands and local businesses to showcase their innovations.

The entire sports tourism market is estimated at close to $600B, which means that golf clubs are only one type of equipment that consumers are packing before they hit the road of the air. Rackets and padels are finding their way into travel bags at a rapid rate.

Players aren't the only people who are heading to the courts.

As the number of tournaments and fan opportunities grow, fans of pickleball, tennis, and padel go where the pros are playing so they can cheer them on and meet other fans. Millions of people are now making plans for the Paris Summer Olympics, where tennis, badminton, and table tennis are among the line-up.

Fans don't have to wait for Paris, the U.S. Open, or Wimbledon to enjoy their favorite racquet sports. And they now have even more sports to watch.

Tennis travel planners create trips for players and academies offer getaways for people looking to improve their game. Google "Tennis Tours 2024" and you'll find more than 100M results. From zen retreats to group trips to Austalia, you'll find a trip for every level.

Not surprisingly, The Wall Street Journal recently reported the boom in pickleball tourism.

• Pickleball Tours organizes retreats and has a Meet Up group to bring players together.
• Pickleball in Paradise lists cruises as an option. (See below for more about that.)
• Pickleball Getaways offers international destinations among its options.
• JetSet Pickleball is a full-service travel agency that curates private, pickleball-filled luxury getaways.
• Pickleball in the Sun works with resorts themselves to market their pickleball experiences and views the sport as a "lifestyle" rather than just a game.

"Events like RacquetX exemplify the enthusiasm of fellow pickleball enthusiasts to gather for educational opportunities, contributing to the ongoing growth of the sport," stated Laura Gainor, Founder and CEO of Pickleball in the Sun. "As a lifestyle brand and experiential pickleball marketing agency that highlights the finest destinations and experiences, the Miami area is increasingly becoming a sought-after location. We eagerly anticipate further collaboration with resorts and pickleball venues in the area as we expand our 'Premier Pickleball in the Sun Destinations' list. Additionally, we aim to connect brands with pickleball fans through these unique experiences." 

Players can enjoy the sport at sea, as more cruise lines are installing courts on their ships.

As padel becomes more popular, companies like Padel Escapes and Padel n Travel have emerged to help consumers plan their dream getaways.

The equipment industry is keeping up with the racquet tourism trend, as many companies (established brands and new emerging fashion and luggage manufacturers) are adding racquet luggage to their product lines. Some of these brands are mentioned in our Racquet Style report.

Tournaments present a huge opportunity for game fans to travel to places where they can play AND watch their favorite racquet sport, while meeting other lovers of the game.

That's one of the reasons we are launching the RacquetX festival during the week of the Miami Open and the Chase APP Tournament in Miami is to give our guests an opportunity to experience all three events during one getaway. Discounted rates at some of Miami's best hotels make travel planning easier.

If you've never experienced racquet tourism before or if most of your vacations revolve around a ball and a net, you'll find something to love in Miami this March.