Vince Nguyen, a 39-year-old businessman based in Vietnam, spends a few hundred dollars nearly every month traveling to other countries to play pickleball.
The sport, which began as a hobby after he was injured in American football, has since become the focus of his lifestyle, as he practices it for approximately two to four hours daily.
Since he started playing the sport two years ago, Nguyen has played sporadically in Malaysia, Taiwan, Vietnam and Canada. He is scheduled to head to China next month to participate in an upcoming tournament.
He says he spends a few hundred dollars on round-trip flights to Taiwan or Malaysia for tournaments and recreational play with friends. In addition, he pays court fees that range from $4 to $8 for open play and about $38 per night for hotels. In total, the trips cost him between $386 and $772.
However, he spends approximately $1,000 when traveling to Canada, where airfare and domestic prices are higher than in Asia.
“I like to spend a week… playing several times, walking around different stadiums and going to different restaurants,” he said.
Vince Nguyen (top right) at a pickleball tournament in Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam.
Source: Vince Nguyen
Nguyen believes traveling to play pickleball makes a difference because “every country has a little different style” of playing the game, and he’s not alone. He’s one of many millennials fueling a growing trend in travel: sports tourism.
according to Hilton 2026 Trends Reportwhich surveyed more than 14,000 travelers across 14 countries, about 67% of Millennials have planned a trip for events related to their interests, including sports, health, and concerts.
In the United States alone, Millennials are 80% more likely to plan a vacation to play tennis, and 87% more likely to play pickleball, according to a recent study. Survey conducted by online travel agency Priceline Travel trends in 2025
There are no signs of sports tourism slowing down. The sports tourism industry is already A market worth $707.29 billion It is expected to nearly triple by 2032, according to Fortune Business Insights.
Europe leads the market with a value of $248.23 billion last year. Meanwhile, Asia Pacific is ranked as the fastest growing region and is expected to be worth $149.50 billion in 2025.
Sports tourism in the Asia-Pacific region is expected to achieve a compound annual growth rate of 17.85% from 2025 to 2032.
“Good for your soul”
There is Nirbhay Handa, another 35-year-old millennial who lives in Singapore and also travels abroad to play tennis.
He said: “I will go to a tennis camp in Phuket… When I travel to Dubai and Abu Dhabi, I have a tennis coach that I go to and play with in the evening after work.” “I think this makes me better at work, because I’m in a better mood,” the businessman said.
He will also bring his tennis racket with him when he travels for business or pleasure. He said he spent about $200 a week on tennis sessions in Dubai.
Handa said that sports are more than just a hobby for him. He added: “It has become very therapeutic and has made me develop some good habits… not drinking until late on Fridays… and quitting social smoking completely.”
He emphasizes playing tennis when he is out for leisure or work.
Tennis, which he considers “good for your soul,” not only helps him relax but also satisfies his social life.
“It does a little bit of what going out to the pub might do for a lot of people, you know, which is meeting people, meeting your friends for a drink, but I feel like I can do that on the tennis court,” he said.
Hit personal goals
Mike Goldies, who lives in Florida, travels abroad surfing with the goal of playing at as many different surf parks as possible. The 39-year-old has logged 140 hours so far in 26 cities in 10 countries.
“Every surf park…is so unique to me. I can’t get enough of it. I want to keep checking it out and seeing what this park was like in this state,” he said.
“I rarely return to the same wave pool twice,” he added.
He said Goldies spent $18,500 on surf sessions alone, budgeting between $6,000 and $10,000 per trip depending on flights and accommodations. He also allocates funds for photography and video to share on social media platforms.
Mike Goldies surfs at Atlantic Park Surf in Virginia Beach, USA.
Source: Andrew Tonra
As a social media strategist at a non-profit organization, he takes one to two weeks off to go on surf trips — and is only interested in working in emergency situations.
“When you pay to surf at a wave pool, you’re ensuring that the waves are really strong and you like a good shape…and it’s a way to speed up progress,” he said. “[It’s] “Pretty fast for someone who doesn’t have perfect waves all the time” near his residence in Florida.
At $170 an hour, surf parks aren’t cheap. But Goldies insists she deserves it.
“As long as it doesn’t put you in a bad financial situation afterwards,” he said.
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2025-11-29 05:41:00
