A well-known trend among hikers and skiers, and the subject of research for almost 40 years, sports tourism continues to expand. A recent study reveals that1 in 3 French people will opt for this practice in 2023. Focus on a phenomenon at the crossroads of economic, climate and public health issues.
What is sport tourism?
What is sport tourism? Going on vacation with the primary aim of practicing or discovering a sport?
Or taking a three-day trip to watch an international competition?
Or visit mythical sports facilities?
In reality, it's a bit of all of the above. With its multifaceted nature, this practice, which dates back to the 19th century , involves a number of different approaches.
" Its contemporary definition could be summed up as spending at least one night away from home with the aim of seeing or doing a sporting activity", summarizes Marc Langenbach*,* lecturer in the geography of tourism and sport at Grenoble Alpes University.
That said, there are as many practices as there are practitioners. "This can range from almost contemplative physical activity outdoors, to a high-intensity sport like trail running or caving ", continues the researcher.
1/3 of French people have chosen sports tourism by 2023
The moving concept of sports tourism is animating beyond academic circles. At the end of 2023, the Ministries of Sport and Economy commissioned a study of this sector, which brings together a wide variety of players (local authorities, accommodation providers, sports movements, equipment rental companies, coaches, freelancers, etc.).
"We needed an inventory of existing data to identify demand, supply and development levers", reports Gérard Baudry, head of the **Pôle ressources nationale Sports innovations **(PRN SI), the study's pilot.
The results, delivered at the end of February 2024, show that1/3 of French people practiced a sport in 2023, whether the intention was a primary or secondary motivation. "The sector needs to become more structured, he continues. But the potential for development is considerable, with 62% intending to engage in sports tourism in the future!"
95% of the adult population is at health risk due to a lack of physical activity
For Marc Langenbach, there is a correlation between the boom in sports tourism and democratization of sport.
" The rental and distribution of equipment via certain retailers has developed, making certain sports more accessible. Similarly, the perception of sport as a leisure activity and a pursuit of pleasure, contributes to this democratization. An increased presence of sport in the media field contributes to its popularization, particularly during major events such as the Olympic Games."
The extent of the phenomenon is also due to "the political strategies around climate and public health issues", stresses the researcher.
The injunctions to get moving are becoming increasingly prevalent. "Sport tourism can have a role to play on these subjects, especially as the promotion of physical activity and sport has been declared Grande cause nationale for 2024 ", Gérard Baudry reminds us, citing some edifying figures: 95% of the adult population and 66% of teenagers experience a health risk due to a lack of physical activity combined with periods of excessive sedentariness
The desire to enjoy nature, the primary motivation
From the coast to the mountains, via rural areas, the common denominator of sports tourism is almost always immersion in or confrontation with natural spaces .
For 62% of sports enthusiasts, the desire to enjoy nature is the main motivation. This is reflected in the choice of outdoor sporting activities: **walking, swimming and cycling top the list of physical activities most practiced during their vacations.
Among the trends described in the study commissioned by the French Ministries of Sport and Economy, peri-urban and rural destinations are developing a range of activities based around cycling and walking, the most popular disciplines for sporting holidays in itinerant.
"This type of activity appeals to 10% of French people, particularly the younger generations", notes Gérard Baudry. To a lesser extent, canoeing, sailing and horse-riding complete the picture.
"From accommodation to transport, regions are gradually structuring themselves to cater for this practice, even if it still remains a niche", notes Marc Lagenbach.
Money and climate, the two main obstacles to sporting vacations
While it appeals to all segments of the population (age, gender), sports tourism is more popular among the higher socio-professional categories. " It's a reflection of the opportunities French people now have to go on vacation", analyzes Gérard Baudry.
Other obstacles: climate change. 78% of sports tourism operators, regardless of region, say they have already been affected. Pollution, snow clearing... and above all, extreme heat are changing the situation.
Schedules and even seasonality are beginning to be rethought," says the lecturer in tourism and sport geography. Mountaineering, which used to start in April or May, now starts in March".
According to the study, professionals are beginning to adapt. And 91% of "practicing" sports tourists already pay particular attention to the **ecological character **of the equipment rented, to eco-responsible gestures, to local roots, etc. The levers for developing sports tourism are still numerous... The long-distance race has already begun.
- survey of 3,000 French people and 680 players in the tourism and sports offer in mainland France.
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Sports tourism can be visited
Still relatively underdeveloped in France, tourism de visite is sometimes considered a branch of sports tourism. It refers to the visit of infrastructures or emblematic sites linked to the tangible or intangible heritage of sport: the architecture of a sports facility, the memory of a team victory, a soccer museum, a stadium, and so on.
