Sporting holidays are destined to become a winning trend.

According to the latest survey of the World Travel Monitor, commissioned by ITB Berlin, over the last five years there has been a double-digit increase in sporting holidays among European tourists, which has even overtaken cruises.

Five years ago cruises ranked ahead of sporting holidays. Germans in particular are keenest on sports, and account for 42 per cent of the nine million sporting holidays taken by Europeans abroad. At 14 per cent the Dutch rank second. In other European markets sporting holidays make up only six per cent or less.

Among sporting holidaymakers the most popular destination is Austria, which attracts 24 per cent of the market, followed by Italy and Germany, which each account for 11 per cent.

During the last five years Germans also preferred Austria for testing their sporting limits. At 42 per cent Austria ranks ahead of Italy (18 per cent) and Switzerland (14 per cent).

The most popular activities among European sporting holidaymakers are hiking (38 per cent) and cycling tours (23 per cent).

They are followed in third by motor sports (car, motorcycle and motorboat racing) at 14 per cent. At ten per cent golf ranks fourth in the sporting popularity stakes. Among German sporting holidaymakers hiking (34 per cent) and cycling (25 per cent) are the leaders among the top 10 most popular sporting activities. Nine per cent of German sporting holidaymakers prefer golf.

Martin Buck, director of the Competence Centre Travel and Logistics at Messe Berlin said: “Sporting holidays are a niche segment with a serious potential for tourism in the future. A growing awareness of one’s body and mind means that people are increasingly keen to improve their health when on vacation.”