Fishing holidays are on the rise, with the global fishing tourism market projected to grow from $72.5 billion in 2023 to $211.1 billion by 2033. This creates an opportunity for savvy retailers who offer products that will appeal to fishing travellers.
Along with fishing holidays being likely to attract people all year round, they may also demand expensive equipment such as specialist luggage and rods. Retailers who tap into this trend early could benefit as the industry expands over the next decade.
Interest in Fishing and Fishing Holidays is On the Rise
If you look at the entertainment market, you don’t need too many facts and figures to see that there’s a growing interest in fishing in popular culture. The online casino market is a good place to see how widespread fishing content is, and players can play Big Bass Bonanza among many other fishing games, including Fishin’ Frenzy and Fishin’ Reels.
There’s also a great deal of fishing content on television that’s helping more people discover the pastime. Mortimer and Whitehouse: Gone Fishing, for instance, has been running for eight series so far, and offers viewers a chance to escape to nature with the iconic comedians.
The visibility of fishing through entertainment could encourage more people to consider the pastime and potentially go on fishing holidays. The rise of this type of tourism could also be to do with people wanting to build a long-term connection with nature, as highlighted by research from Gov.uk.
The Equipment Opportunity for Retailers
There are plenty of fishing retailers that cater to the regular fishing market, and they could advertise different products to people planning fishing holidays. This is because they may need more equipment, along with special items that are designed for travellers.
Retailers could specialise in travel fishing products such as multi-piece rods that can fit in standard luggage or specialist rod cases. These include items such as the Daiwa Legalis Travel Rod and the Abu Garcia Salmo Seeker. Other equipment that people need includes tackle bags and backpacks like the Grundéns Shackleton 2.0 Duffel 105L recommended by Fish Alaska and waders with strong grip like the Orvis Ultralight Waders.
Many of these items could be sold together as a travel package so fishing tourists can get everything they need at one time.
Fishing Being Treated as More Than Just a Specialist Pastime
While marketing to fishing tourists could prove to be lucrative, retailers don’t need to solely focus on this niche. The increasing interest in fishing is part of a much larger outdoor recreational economy, with hiking, camping, and watersports among the other activities that retailers could explore selling products for.
Certain items such as GPS devices and power banks could be marketed to people who have different outdoor recreational interests, as they would have uses in different pursuits including fishing and hiking.
The growing market for fishing holidays could provide retailers with a unique opportunity. These holidays require specialist equipment, and retailers who can offer everything people need in one place could be successful.