Global Scans · Leisure · Weekly Summary

WHAT'S NEXT?: Online retailing will be one of the fastest growing channels between 2015 and 2019 as individuals do not have much time for leisure and seek convenience. Entertainment will continue to shift away from traditional broadcast media and print to reality augmented and deeply personalised content. The occupations with the largest new employment growth will be managers, professional and technical jobs, and caring and leisure occupations. Many middle-class professionals will be outsourced to machines within the next few decades leaving workers with more leisure time than they have ever experienced.

• [New] The natural / homemade segment is expected to witness the fastest CAGR from 2026 to 2033, fueled by growing interest in complementary and alternative approaches such as herbal remedies, relaxation techniques, dietary changes, and mindfulness practices. Data Bridge Market Research
• [New] TikTok Shop was the most widely planned social commerce channel: 21% of respondents said their company plans to use TikTok Shop as a sales channel during the 2026 holiday season, compared with just 6% who plan to use another social commerce platform. Digiday
• [New] The travel and ticketing segment is expected to register the fastest growth at a CAGR of 19.6% during 2026-2034, driven by increasing digital bookings for flights, railways, public transportation, and entertainment events. Straits Research
• [New] The fantasy sports software solutions development industry is expected to cross $30 billion in the next 5 years globally. Trango Tech
• [New] The Asia-Pacific region is expected to have the highest growth rate due to increasing disposable income and preferences for aerial sports such as parachuting and skydiving. Market Data Forecast
• Media & Entertainment is expected to account for 32.0% share in 2026. FactMr
• By Application: Media & Entertainment is expected to account for 32.0% share in 2026 because dubbing and digital video require approved speech. FactMr
• The recreation segment is emerging as the fastest-growing service category and is projected to grow at a CAGR of 15.8% in the coming years. Market Data Forecast
• Beach destinations along the Mediterranean and Aegean coasts will continue to enjoy ideal conditions for swimming, sunbathing, and water sports, while inland regions remain warm and dry. RestProperty
• Broadcast revenue is expected to make up 25% of women's sport revenues (US$ 765 million) in 2026, up from 23% in 2025. Biz Republic
• Future growth will depend on technological innovation, environmental sustainability, and expanding international tourism, with South Korea aiming to position itself as a premier winter sports destination in Asia-Pacific. Verified Market Reports
• Leading Purpose Type: The to-play segment is projected to be the leading purpose type in 2026, accounting for 38% of revenue share, driven by rising demand for multi-functional cat trees that combine entertainment, exercise, and space-efficient design. Persistence Market Research
• Cricket remains the largest sport but its revenue share is expected to decline to 74% as football, kabaddi, basketball, and multi-sport social formats scale. KEN research
• By 2031, advertising, subscriptions, sponsorship-linked products, affiliate commerce, sports-data services, and overseas revenue are expected to form the majority of the profit pool. KEN research
• Without drastic cuts to greenhouse gas emissions, school sports will become unplayable outdoors by the 2060s. The Guardian
• Gaming continues its streak as one of the fastest-growing sectors within entertainment and media, with revenue projected to top $300 billion in 2028. Kavout
• The five-day shopping period will account for 16.5% of total holiday retail ecommerce sales in 2026, marking the second consecutive year of share growth. eMarketer
• The World Economic Forum values the global sports economy at $2.3 trillion and warns that $169 billion in sporting goods revenue, roughly 27%, is at risk if physical inactivity keeps rising. Sporting Goods Intelligence
• Underserved geographies such as Southeast Asia and Africa, where military modernization and outdoor recreation are expanding, offer significant growth opportunities. Verified Market Reports
• MENA, India, Southeast Asia and Latin America will be growth regions for mobile-first gaming, esports, creator communities, youth entertainment and local-language content. Carlos J. Ochoa Fernandez
• The next few weeks will be closely watched to see whether the summer-holiday lift can help narrow the year-on-year gap and strengthen Thailand's tourism momentum heading into the second half of 2026. The Nation Editorial Team
• On the demand side, Healy expects leisure travel to outperform business travel in 2026, even if consumers shorten trips or choose lower-cost destinations. Auto Rental News

Last updated: 12 August 2026