Key Takeaways
- Nikhil Sachdev noted that “staying active is no longer something people simply try to fit into their daily schedules. Increasingly, it is becoming part of how they choose to spend their holidays.”
- Padel360 co-founders stated that “travel is no longer only about switching off from routine. Increasingly, people are looking at travel as a way to maintain the lifestyle they follow at home, or even build healthier habits while they are away.”
- Luxury properties across destinations such as Dubai, Phuket and Turks and Caicos are actively adding padel and pickleball courts to meet growing demand from sports travellers.
Padel emerges as a core feature of active travel
Holidays were once defined by abandoning everyday routines, leaving alarm clocks behind and pushing exercise aside until the return home. A rapidly expanding cohort of travellers is now packing rackets and athletic wear alongside their luggage, turning sports such as padel and pickleball into central elements of their getaways. Instead of treating fitness as an isolated chore confined to basement hotel gyms, vacationers are seeking active recreation that doubles as a social gateway to destinations.
Data underlines the broader momentum behind this trend. According to the Global Wellness Institute’s 2025 Global Wellness Economy Monitor, wellness travellers undertook 1.24 billion international and domestic journeys in 2024, representing 8.3% of total tourism trips and 17.6% of overall travel expenditure. The Asia Pacific region accounted for the largest share by volume, driven by India and China, which collectively generated almost three-quarters of the regional wellness travel market.
For industry leaders, the transition from passive wellness retreats toward lively court sports represents an organic evolution in leisure habits. Nikhil Sachdev, co-founder of PadelPark India, observed that “staying active is no longer something people simply try to fit into their daily schedules. Increasingly, it is becoming part of how they choose to spend their holidays.”
Maintaining wellness routines away from home
Rather than committing to intensive fitness camps, many travellers simply want to integrate the physical pastimes they enjoy into their leisure time. Starting the morning with a padel match or taking an evening stroll fits naturally alongside sightseeing and dining.
Anu Bansal, Nilesh Bansal, Ishita Mohatta and Gaurav Mohatta, co-founders of Padel360, explained that “travel is no longer only about switching off from routine. Increasingly, people are looking at travel as a way to maintain the lifestyle they follow at home, or even build healthier habits while they are away.”
The team at Padel360 noted that modern holidaymakers view leisure through a more comprehensive framework: “A holiday does not necessarily mean stepping away from your routine completely. For many, it means finding a better balance between relaxation, movement, good food, outdoor experiences and mental well-being.”
Resorts and cities adapt to court-led demand
Access to quality courts has begun to directly influence accommodation choices. Luxury resorts and major international hubs have responded by upgrading their sporting infrastructure to cater specifically to racket sport enthusiasts.
| Destination | Property or network | Racket sport offerings |
|---|---|---|
| Dubai | Le Royal Méridien Beach Resort & Spa | Padel and pickleball courts available to guests and visitors, supported by Visit Dubai padel venue guides |
| Phuket | Amanpuri | Two dedicated padel courts alongside four tennis courts |
| Turks and Caicos | Amanyara | Padel, pickleball and tennis courts featured alongside wellness classes and water sports |
Padel is inherently social, structured around four players and heavily supported by community apps and digital booking platforms. This enables solitary travellers to secure a game in an unfamiliar city within minutes, transforming exercise into an authentic local interaction. As Sachdev noted, “a beginner can take a local lesson and learn the fundamentals, while an experienced player can train with coaches in different cities and experience new playing styles.”
Beyond skill development, Sachdev highlighted that the human element remains the true driver of sports travel: “You may travel because you love the game, but it is often the people you meet and the experiences you share that become the most memorable part.”
