Pickleball is experiencing rapid global growth, with nearly 20 million Americans playing in 2024—a 46% increase from the previous year and a 311% rise since 2021. The sport, especially popular among older adults with higher incomes, is expanding beyond the U.S. to countries like the UK, Spain, Mexico, Australia, and India. Major events such as the Minto US Open Pickleball Championships in Florida and the USA Pickleball National Championships in Arizona attract tens of thousands of players and fans, boosting tourism in host destinations.
Resorts are capitalizing on this surge by integrating pickleball into luxury vacation offerings. Sandals Resorts partnered with USA Pickleball to add dozens of courts and coaching options across multiple locations, while Palmetto Dunes and Club Med Cancún offer specialized pickleball packages and host international tournaments. With its blend of fun, fitness, and travel appeal, pickleball’s popularity shows no signs of slowing, driving continued growth in participation and travel-related experiences worldwide.
