Expectations for growth in the fitness industry

The fitness industry has grown strongly in 2018.
All gym chains in Spain have closed the year with rises in the number of users, according to data compiled by the main chains that monopolize the highest penetration rate in fitness in our country, and they expect it to continue to rise in the coming years.
In fact, the expectation of growth is such that they calculate that the ceiling in penetration has not yet been reached, expecting that in 2030, 14 million Spanish citizens will at some time set foot in a sports center.

The number of fitness practitioners continues to grow by leaps and bounds in Spain.
However, competition is beginning to be felt in sports centers, since average income has fallen slightly, as rates are reduced due to the opening of new centers, especially in large cities.
In other words, there are more promotional rates being charged by companies in the sector to gain market share.

In Spain, the figures are good, despite the fact that the average tariff per subscriber has fallen by almost two percentage points, from €40 to €39.5 and with a turnover of €2,134 million.
With these figures, experts are looking at Germany with a sidelong glance.
Germany has managed to increase the number of users in its centers from 9 to 9.46 million, but has nevertheless reduced its average turnover from €533,000 to €510,000, with the number of operators also falling by more than 1%.

The figures reflect a high turnover of members, close to 55%, so the centers will have to adapt to the new demands of customers to win the battle in the sector.

Despite the fact that several surveys show that there are 20 million people in Spain who confess that going to the gym is “impossible”, citing lack of time or laziness, the sector is confident that it is adapting to the market, offering new trends and attracting this type of people.

If the figures of recent years continue, the main operators expect that in Spain there will be 14 million people practicing fitness in sports centers.
This will depend on the attraction power of the companies to attract the most reluctant people to sports activities.
This would mean that one out of every three inhabitants in our country could regularly go to a gym.

Experts point out that, in the face of the emergence of low-cost chains, the ideal is not to overdo it and maintain prices.
“In the end, the sports center that best adapts to changes remains, not the one that lowers prices sharply”.
With a tool such as TIMP, users can make the most economical reservations at sports centers.

Finally, operators highlight that the economic improvement favors the sector, with 87% of center executives estimating that there are expectations of growth.
In short, the fitness penetration rate is expected to continue to rise in Spain.