Sporting holidays are destined to become a winning trend, according to the latest research from ITB Berlin.

According to the latest survey of the World Travel Monitor, over the last five years there has been a double-digit increase in sporting holidays among European tourists, which has even overtaken cruises, which five years ago ranked ahead of sporting holidays.

Germans in particular are keenest on sports, and account for 42 per cent of the nine million sporting holidays taken by Europeans abroad.

At 14 per cent the Dutch rank second. In other European markets sporting holidays make up only six per cent or less.

Among sporting holidaymakers the most popular destination is Austria, which among Europeans attracts 24 per cent of the market, followed by Italy and Germany, which each account for 11 per cent.

During the last five years Germans also preferred Austria for testing their sporting limits.

At 42 per cent Austria ranks ahead of Italy (18 per cent) and Switzerland (14 per cent).

The most popular activities among European sporting holidaymakers are hiking (38 per cent) and cycling tours (23 per cent).

They are followed in third by motor sports (car, motorcycle and motorboat racing) at 14 per cent.

At ten per cent golf ranks fourth in the sporting popularity stakes.

Among German sporting holidaymakers hiking (34 per cent) and cycling (25 per cent) are the leaders among the top ten most popular sporting activities. Nine per cent of German sporting holidaymakers prefer golf.

Martin Buck, director of the Competence Center Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin: “Sporting holidays are a niche segment with a serious potential for tourism in the future.

“A growing awareness of one’s body and mind means that people are increasingly keen to improve their health when on vacation.”

What is striking is that sporting holidaymakers belong to the wealthier parts of society and as such are a much targeted segment of the market.

European sporting holidaymakers average 43 years of age, and most of them live in households without children. More men than women are attracted to sports when they are on holiday.

At 45 years of age, German sporting holidaymakers may be a little older than the European average, but in all other respects they are no different than other European citizens.

World Tourism Sport Congress

For the first time this year, alongside the climax of the 2011 Rugby World Cup, the World Sport Tourism Congress will take place on the luxury cruise ship – the P&O Pacific Dawn – celebrating the boom in sports tourism.

The event will comprise of four days of inspirational panel debates, leading-edge presentations and priceless networking opportunities, all conducted whilst cruising in style around New Zealand’s beautiful Bay of Islands.

The fully-inclusive cruise package departs from Queen’s Wharf, Auckland on October 10th, returning on October 14th in time for the Rugby World Cup Semi Finals.

Themed “Sharing the Sport and Tourism Boom”, WSTC presents an opportunity for network and engage with industry’s elite, gain invaluable insights from the world’s leading experts and meet face-to-face with the key Sport Tourism buyers as deals are brokered for future sporting events.

Confirmed speakers include: Jeanine Pires (Minster Special Advisor, Rio 2016 Olympics & former President, Embratur), Geoffrey Lipman (Advisor to Secretary General UNWTO), Campbell Jamieson (Commercial Director, International Cricket Council) and Darren Mee (COO, TUI Travel PLC, Specialist & Activity Sector).

The delegate rate of £950 will include access to all sessions on the WSTC programme, four nights accommodation on board the P&O Pacific Dawn, as well as exclusive VIP receptions and gala dinners, as the ship cruises around New Zealand’s North Island.