Money no object for britons seeking the next overseas sporting spectacle

•  Britons set to spend over £5 billion travelling to see their sporting idols overseas in the next two years
•  Over 11 million sports fans are planning to travel abroad to see events such as the Olympics, World Cup and the Ashes

Britons are planning to splash out over £5 billion taking in the atmosphere of international sporting spectacles in the next two years, according to new research from Direct Line travel insurance.1


In the next couple of years, over 11 million travelling supporters will spend an average of £480.83 seeking out sport around the globe.  Whether it is getting up close to a local grudge match, such as Barcelona and Real Madrid battling it out in the El Clasico, or travelling in search of British success on world famous golf courses, cricket pitches and tennis courts, fans will rack up millions of sporting travel miles.  


Foreign football matches are the most desirable event to see, with eight per cent of those surveyed making plans to jet away to see games live abroad, followed by Formula 1 (four per cent) and the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (three per cent).


Tom Bishop, head of Direct Line travel insurance says, “What with last year’s Olympics sparking sporting fever across the nation, it is no surprise that people don’t want to miss out on some of the finest global sporting spectacles. With the World Cup in Brazil next year, the Ashes in Australia, as well as the Tour de France and Formula 1, there are plenty of opportunities to witness world class competition.”


Making sport a major focus of a holiday is particularly important for young people, with a third (34 per cent) of 18 to 34 year olds planning to spend an average of £551.15 on travelling to and watching sport in the near future. Meanwhile, only 14 per cent of over 55s will do the same, spending less in the process - an average of £320.92.


The research found that men are planning to invest more in following their sporting heroes across the world than women, with an average of nearly £570 over the next couple of years, as opposed to only £350 for women. 


Despite the capital playing host to a plethora of elite sport, Londoners are most likely to make a big financial commitment to seeing some international action, with an average planned spend of over £680, according to the survey.


Bishop continues, “With the events spread all over the world, it is no small investment to actually get to the stadiums, so we recommend protecting yourself with comprehensive travel insurance as soon as you book your trip to ensure you’re covered should you need to cancel, and for any emergencies while you are away.”


ENDS

Notes to Editors

1 Study conducted by Opinium Research 9th – 12th July 2013 amongst 2006 UK adults. Results have been extrapolated up based on applying the percentage of UK adults in the nationally representative survey to the number of adults in the UK (50371000) according to the ONS population projections for 2013.


442 respondents out of 2006 indicated that they planned to attend a sporting event abroad in the next two years. This equates to 22% of the adult population or 11,098,695. Multiplied by the average of £480.83 this comes to an overall expected spend of £5,336,538,771.


For more information please contact:

Chloe French
Direct Line Press Office
020 8285 8848 
Chloe.french@directlinegroup.co.uk  


Calum MacDougall
Citigate Dewe Rogerson
Calum.MacDougall@citigatedr.co.uk
0207 282 2874


Direct Line
Started in 1985, Direct Line became the first UK insurance company to use the telephone as its main channel of communication. It provides motor, home, travel and pet insurance cover direct to customers by phone or on-line. 


Direct Line general insurance policies are underwritten by U K Insurance Limited, Registered office: The Wharf, Neville Street, Leeds LS1 4AZ. Registered in England No 1179980. U K Insurance Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. 


Direct Line and UK Insurance limited are both part of Direct Line Insurance Group plc.
Customers can find out more about Direct Line products or get a quote by calling 0845 246 3761 or visiting www.directline.com