The sector of fitness 2023 has started approaching pre-covid levels. The first quarter of the year has registered a moderate but substantial increase in revenue, compared to the first three months of 2022. Even so, 44% of all operators have grown compared to the same period in 2019, prior to the outbreak of the pandemic.
On the other hand, industry experts point to THE OBJECTIVE that “close to 50% of gyms have maintained their income compared to 2022 and many have managed to exceed their pre-pandemic figures, but there are far fewer subscribers.”
The different experts consulted by this means have agreed that the number of subscribers has been reduced, but that the influx of people around the world of fitness is higher, either moderately or substantially. «There are much fewer subscribers, but this number will grow as the summer progresses. The most important thing will be to assess the post-holiday fall to really know the results of the year, which, for now, seem encouraging».
The growth of 2022
Spanish gyms ‘return’ to March 2020. Two and a half years after the declaration of the first state of alarm for the pandemic, the health sector fitness In Spain, it once again registers figures at the level of registrations, cancellations, members, accesses and income that are very similar to those obtained before the outbreak of the covid.
This was reflected by Monthly Fitness BarometerKPI corresponding to the month of September. The consultancy’s post-covid recovery report established the sector’s recovery average at 97%.
Reasons for growth
The end of all restrictions to combat covid was the main reason for growth. However, factors such as the recovery of subscribers, the increase in young people -and women above all- and technological growth have been fundamental.
On this last point, there are several companies that began in 2022 to present different solutions that brought the user closer to new online possibilities: «They have used everything from Trainingym applications, interactivity with television programs or YouTube, to cryptocurrencies. All this to enter the youth market, which is so variable”, different experts explain to this medium.
On the other hand, the growth of the sport is significant outdoors. The pandemic taught people that, in order to play sports, it was not fully necessary to enter a gym or -failing that-, not in its indoor facilities. People wanted to be outdoors.
«We took note of these needs and the boom of outdoor sports. For this reason there are more and more paddle tennis courts and gyms outdoorswhich are those who are in sports venues, but outside, with their machines for everything ».
Growth postponed to 2024
However, although the growth has been massive in the past year -and continues to grow in the present course-, experts assure that the business will not recover its full volume until 2024 or -at least- “Until the third quarter of 2023, as the post-summer fall will determine the results.”
“We will have to adapt to the new market needs and capitalize on them to recover pre-pandemic levels. The confinement was a before and after in the world of sports and -people- have realized that they do not need a gym to be fitness. However, in a gym we establish circuits to meet the objectives until the beginning of diet changes, so it is the main thing that we must teach if we want them to trust us again »say the sources.
