Research from YouGov shows 70 per cent of Australians will travel domestically this year to spectate or to participate in a sporting event, with Sydney their number one destination.
Airbnb Country Manager for Australia and New Zealand Susan Wheeldon said: “Millennials are leading the pack with 78 per cent having travelled for sport in the past six months while Gen Z are particularly keen on following the Lions rugby tour."
The British & Irish Lions Tour is the first in Australia since 2013, with the team made up of the best men’s rugby players from England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales.
This week, the Lions arrived in Australia and will take on the Waratahs on July 5 at Allianz Stadium, with the final match of the tour seeing them take on the Wallabies at Accor Stadium on 2 August. The matches are supported proudly by Destination NSW.
This year, two-thirds (66 per cent) of NSW residents plan to travel for sport followed by 61 per cent of Queenslanders and 58 per cent of Victorians.
Across Australia, YouGov data shows sport fans are willing to spend on average $108 per person per night on accommodation generating a ripple effect that boosts local economies.
It also shows Aussies still want to get in on the action of live sport despite the cost of living.
Both domestic and global events are proving popular such as the NRL’s State of Origin, while events that attract global visitors such as the upcoming men’s Ashes series and Sydney Marathon have also seen a significant increase in searches on the Airbnb platform.
CEO and Race Director of the TCS Sydney Marathon Wayne Larden said: “With 35,000 participants and many travelling from interstate or overseas, there are a huge number of runners looking for accommodation.
"And often they are travelling with family or friends so an Airbnb is a much more convenient and cost effective way for them to travel for the event.”
