A new report from the World Economic Forum (WEF) has highlighted sports tourism as driving rapid growth of the sports economy.

The global sporting ecosystem currently generates around $3.3 trillion in annual revenues and it accounts for close to two per cent of global GDP. Projections show the sector could nearly quadruple by 2050, reaching up to $12.7 trillion annually.

According to WEF's Sports for People and Planet 2026 report, the sports tourism sector is forecast to account for 60 per cent of total sports economy revenue growth until 2030.

It has also become the fastest-growing segment of the global tourism industry, consistently outpacing broader travel trends since the pandemic.

In 2025, sports tourism accounted for 10 per cent of global travel expenditure, with revenues growing at a compound annual rate of 28 per cent since 2020, above the 22 per cent growth seen across all tourism.

WEF said this momentum was expected to continue, with a projected annual growth rate of 17.5 per cent through to 2030.

"The rapid growth of global sporting events and the expansion of tournament offerings are driving heightened demand, particularly in sports such as cycling and golf," WEF said.

"Endurance-based experiences and holidays in both urban and nature-based settings are also increasingly popular."

The report noted that women’s professional sport is experiencing unprecedented growth, with revenues projected to reach $2.35 billion in 2025, more than triple the 2022 figure.

Association football and basketball account for 80 per cent of this income. WEF said the 2023 FIFA Women’s World Cup, co-hosted by Australia and New Zealand, underscores this trajectory.

Supported by Destination NSW, the tournament attracted more than two billion viewers, delivering substantial economic benefits and stimulating a rise in football participation in the host countries.

Destination NSW is also supporting the AFC Women’s Asian Cup 2026™, which kicks off on 1 March.

The Matildas will play Korea Republic in a critical group match on International Women’s Day, which will be one of 11 tournament matches played in Sydney, including two Quarter Finals, a Semi Final and the Final.

Read the full report here.