Latest news with #Nahta
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Business Standard
04-07-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Sports tourism boom: Visas up 28% for Wimbledon, 30% for Formula 1 races
As the summer calendar fills with marquee sports events, fans across the world are no longer content watching from their sofas. New data from visa processing platform Atlys shows a rise in international travel driven by sports tourism—with Wimbledon and Formula 1 leading the charge. Wimbledon 2025 draws fans beyond the court Wimbledon, running from June 30 to July 13, 2025, has triggered a 28 per cent spike in UK visa-related search queries on Atlys. Hosted at the All England Club in London, the tournament has become more than a tennis fixture. Many visitors are combining match attendance with sightseeing and holiday stays across the UK. 'The interest we're seeing isn't limited to Centre Court,' said Mohak Nahta, founder and CEO of Atlys. 'People are planning entire trips around Wimbledon, often adding a few extra days to explore the region or even catch other events.' Formula 1 calendar fuels intercontinental bookings This year's Formula 1 season, featuring 24 races in 21 countries, has sparked a steady stream of visa-related searches in the run-up to major races. Activity on Atlys shows clear peaks in fan interest about 3 to 5 weeks ahead of each Grand Prix. Countries such as Italy, Monaco, Japan and the UK have all seen surges in visa searches—ranging from 18 per cent to 30 per cent—as fans book multi-day trips built around the race weekends. 'From Monza to Suzuka, fans are not just attending races. They're building full itineraries that combine sport with travel experiences,' said Nahta. Paris Olympics 2024 was a turning point The trend isn't new. In the lead-up to the Paris Olympics in 2024, Atlys recorded a 60 per cent rise in visa applications from India, along with a 50 per cent jump in sports-related travel inquiries. Group visa applications also climbed 45 per cent during the same period. Atlys' data suggests that fans are increasingly extending their stays, combining events across locations, and weaving sport into broader leisure plans. 'From what we see in visa search trends, sports have become one of the most influential forces shaping global mobility,' said Nahta. 'It's not just about attending a match or a race anymore; it's about being part of something bigger, something unforgettable.' Cricket brings a regional push The 2025 ICC Champions Trophy held in Dubai also offered a strong case. During the tournament, overall travel bookings to Dubai rose by nearly 45 per cent, according to Atlys. Cricket, long known for its dedicated fanbase, is now increasingly shaping travel decisions across South Asia and the Gulf. What is sports tourism? Sports tourism refers to travel for the purpose of attending or participating in sports. It includes everything from spectators flying to a new country to catch a match, to travellers joining local marathons or exploring golf resorts abroad. Fans often build extended itineraries around these events—taking in local culture, food, and other attractions before or after the match days. Global market is booming According to Allied Market Research, the global sports tourism market was valued at $323.4 billion in 2020 and is expected to reach $1.8 trillion by 2030. That's a projected growth of over 16 per cent a year. Much of this is being driven by: • Major international tournaments • Growing middle-class incomes in Asia and Africa • Increasing interest in combining leisure with live sport India eyes its place on the global sports map India is now looking to harness this wave. On the same day an Indian delegation pitched to the International Olympic Committee for hosting rights to the 2036 Games, the cabinet approved the National Sports Policy 2025. The new policy outlines a long-term vision to make India one of the world's top five sporting nations by 2047. Information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, who launched the policy on Tuesday, said it was aimed at building 'world-class systems for training, coaching and holistic athlete support.' The plan also includes: • Hosting more international sporting events • Promoting India as a sports tourism destination • Integrating sports into the education system under the National Education Policy 2020 • Supporting the domestic sports manufacturing sector India's push aligns with growing global momentum in sports-driven travel. Whether it's fans chasing tennis in London, Grand Prix races across continents, or cricketing showdowns in the Gulf, sport is no longer just something to watch. It's becoming a reason to fly.
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Business Standard
25-06-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
Visa queries jump as Wimbledon, F1 power global sports tourism: Atlys
Sports events like Wimbledon and Formula 1 are driving a sharp rise in international visa searches as fans build entire travel plans around global sporting fixtures Major sports events like Wimbledon 2025 and the ongoing Formula 1 season are sparking a surge in visa-related enquiries, a new report has shown. Wimbledon 2025, scheduled in London from June 30 to July 13, has led to a 28 per cent rise in UK visa application queries, according to Atlys, a visa processing platform. The tournament has evolved into more than just a tennis championship. 'Fans are extending their trips, combining matches with leisure and sightseeing, and turning Wimbledon into the centrepiece of broader summer travel plans,' stated Atlys in a release. Since the season kicked off in March, visa search activity around key host nations has risen on the platform by 18–30 per cent. 'Countries like Italy, Monaco, Japan and the UK have seen elevated query volumes, aligning with the mid-season stretch of marquee races,' the release added. 'We're witnessing a global shift where major sporting events aren't just being watched, they're being chased across borders,' said Mohak Nahta, founder and chief executive officer, Atlys. 'Fans are planning entire international trips around these experiences, turning events like Wimbledon and Formula 1 into powerful travel magnets. From what we see in visa search trends, sports have become one of the most influential forces shaping global mobility. It's not just about attending a match or a race anymore; it's about being part of something bigger, something unforgettable,' Nahta added. This is not the first time this has happened. During the ICC Champions Trophy earlier this year, held in Dubai, there was a notable spike in sports-related travel. Overall bookings to Dubai rose by nearly 45 per cent during the series in which India defeated New Zealand. 'This reinforces the growing influence of cricket in shaping regional mobility trends,' the report added.
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Business Standard
20-05-2025
- Business
- Business Standard
India-Pak tension cause 42% drop in Visa demand for Turkey, Baku:Atlys Data
Indian visa applications for Turkey and Azerbaijan have dropped 42 per cent, said a report by processing platform Atlys on Tuesday weeks after India's Operation Sindoor military campaign against Pakistan. Turkey and Azerbaijan's statements supported Pakistan during the campaign, prompting a backlash from Indian travellers and travel agencies. Within 36 hours of statements, Atlys recorded a 60 per cent rise in users who exited the visa application process midway. 'The reaction wasn't scattered, it was sharp and behavioral,' said Mohak Nahta, founder and chief executive officer of Atlys. 'People didn't need to be told to avoid certain destinations. They simply moved on, guided by instinct, information, and access to alternatives.' In the first quarter of 2025, applications to Turkey and Azerbaijan had surged by nearly 64 per cent over the same period in 2024, driven by the appeal of cities and regions like Istanbul and Cappadocia (Turkey) and Baku (Azerbaijan). Metro vs Tier-II cities Metro cities like Delhi and Mumbai saw a 53 per cent drop in Turkey-bound visa applications Tier-2 cities such as Indore and Jaipur showed more resilience with only a 20 per cent decline Larger group travel plans were hit hardest, with group visa requests falling 49 per cent. Solo and couple travellers showed a milder drop at 27 per cent. Younger, digital-savvy travellers lead the shift Atlys's data suggests that travellers aged 25-34 were the most responsive to the geopolitical shift, accounting for over 70 per cent of mid-process drop-offs. Women were more likely to switch destinations altogether, with a 2.3 times higher likelihood of reapplying for countries like Vietnam or Thailand. Southeast Asia emerges as preferred alternative As interest in Turkey and Azerbaijan declined, countries such as Vietnam, Indonesia, and Egypt saw a combined 31 per cent rise in visa applications. These destinations are being favoured for their affordability, accessibility, and political neutrality. Atlys expects this trend to continue through the summer, especially from urban, young, and tech-savvy travellers. 'In the same spirit, we also paused all marketing efforts for Turkey and Azerbaijan, standing by India and in solidarity with national sentiment,' Nahta added.
