KEY FINDINGS
FROM IHRSA’S
By Kristen Walsh
2017 GLOBAL REPORT
T
he global health club
industry continued
to grow in 2016,
according to The 2017
IHRSA Global Report,
which was published in
May. Total industry revenue
reached an estimated
US$83.1 billion, as roughly
200,000 clubs served 162
million members worldwide.
Leading markets in North
America and Europe
continued to grow, while
markets in Latin America
posted strong performance.
*currencies have been converted to
Australian dollars.
will see a widening of the gap between
the full-service/low-service options as
the ‘need to be different’ segments our
industry.”
Asia-Pacific
In particular, the Asia-Pacific serves 17
million members at 31,000 health clubs
in 14 markets (excluding the Middle
East). Health club industry revenue totals
AU$19.34 billion in this region.
Europe
The IHRSA Asia-Pacific Health Club
Report shows there is room for growth in
the Asia-Pacific as the average member
penetration rate for the region is just
3.8%. Australia and New Zealand lead all
Asia-Pacific markets in penetration rate
at 14.8% and 11.4%, respectively. Larger
cities in Asia, including Beijing, Shanghai,
Kuala Lumpur, and Jakarta, are home to
maturing industries, while future growth
is anticipated in growing cities as well as
the Asia-Pacific, overall.
Namely, opportunities for the fitness
industry abound in the global economic
powerhouses of China and India, which
have penetration rates of 0.4% and
0.12%, respectively. China is home to
roughly 2,700 health clubs with a total
of 3.9 million members. The health club
industry in India has roughly 3,800 health
club facilities and nearly one million
members.
In 2017, the Asia-Pacific region will
continue to explore the new boutique
models becoming popular in the U.S.
and Europe, with personal training-
oriented studios creating more
entrepreneurial opportunities in many
countries, and digital communication for
better member engagement growing in
the region’s many languages, predicted
John Holsinger, IHRSA’s Director of Asia-
Pacific. “Of clear importance with this
boutique growth is the need to execute
effective business fundamentals,
regardless of the business models being
employed, to be well-prepared for future
challenges,” he added. “Mature markets
10
In spite of a weakening Euro and
challenges in the political landscape,
the fitness industry in Europe continues
its robust performance. The European
health club market serves more than
56 million members as nearly 55,000
health clubs generate AU$39 billion in
revenue. The UK and Germany continue
to lead all markets in Europe. In the UK,
based on research by LeisureDB, 9.7
million members belong to a health
club, up from 9.3 million a year ago.
Approximately 6,728 facilities in the UK
generate a collective AU$8.2 billion
in industry revenue. Germany attracts
more than 10 million members to 8,600
facilities and generates AU$7.5 billion in
revenue.
According to The European Health &
Fitness Market Report, Europe has strong
prospects for growth considering not
only the mature, solid markets in Western
Europe, but also the potential in Eastern
European markets such as Russia, Turkey
and Poland. The penetration rates in
these three markets are among the
lowest in Europe, signifying potential for
growth.
Middle East & North Africa
(MENA)
Based on findings gathered by The
FACTS Academy, industry experts based
in Egypt, approximately 3.4 million
members utilise 5,600 health clubs in 10
markets in the Middle East and North
Africa. These 10 markets collectively
generate roughly AU$2.7 billion in
industry revenue. Saudi Arabia leads
all markets in this region in revenue with
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