Football fever fuels international travel
Prague/Barcelona — Football not only ignites passion but also serves as a major driver of national and international tourism, with loyal fans eagerly taking to the skies to cheer for their teams in person. Data from Kiwi.com, a leading travel-tech company, reveals how this passion fuels a growing trend in sports tourism, with Spanish and Czech fans at the forefront.
Spanish fans flocked to Saudi Arabia for Super Cup
In January 2025, bookings from Spain to Saudi Arabia increased by 24%, coinciding with the Spanish Super Cup, a competition bringing together Real Madrid CF, Athletic Club, FC Barcelona, and RCD Mallorca. Jeddah, the tournament’s host city, became the top destination for Spanish travelers, especially around key match dates such as January 6 and 8. Spanish fans, primarily departing from Barcelona and Madrid, planned average stays of seven days, with 43% extending their trips to 10 days. The average flight cost was €309, with most bookings made 30 days in advance.
Czech fans propelled October travel boom
In October 2024, a combination of a long weekend and three international matches involving major Czech football clubs led to record-breaking travel numbers as fans headed abroad to support their teams. Flight bookings to Bilbao surged tenfold as Slavia Prague played on October 24, propelling the city from its usual 49th to 6th place among top destinations. Similarly, Manchester and Athens saw bookings spike ninefold and twofold, respectively, with fans supporting Sparta Prague and Viktoria Plzeň. Group bookings made up a third of all reservations—double the usual rate—with most fans opting for short trips lasting up to three days. Czech customers booked their tickets for this week more in advance than usual — on average a week earlier — but the average price was still €195.99, only 5% more than the 2024 average. Fans who booked their flights in October paid an average of €218, whereas those who secured tickets as early as August saved approximately €50.
Football tourism: A rising phenomenon
Similar surges were observed across Europe during the UEFA European Football Championship in Germany, where Czech bookings to cities like Hamburg doubled on match days. From Czech fans filling flights to Spain and England to Spaniards traveling to Saudi Arabia, football has become one of the key drivers of international travel trends. As Jeddah’s UNESCO-listed historic sites and Bilbao’s vibrant culture welcome fans, Kiwi.com data highlights how the love for the game inspires travel and exploration.
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About Kiwi.com
Kiwi.com is a leading global travel tech company headquartered in the Czech Republic. Kiwi.com’s innovative algorithm enables users to find better route options and prices other search engines can’t see, performing billions of price checks per day across 95% of global flight content. 100 million searches are carried out every day on Kiwi.com’s website and partner channels. On average over 50,000 seats are sold daily.