Results of 2021 Survey of the Sports Expenditure of the People of Taiwan announced Sports equipment accounts for the largest proportion of expenditure overall
On September 1, the Sports Administration announced the results of the Survey of the Sports Expenditure of the People of Taiwan in 2021. Total sports expenditure was NT$133.58 billion, down by 1.3% in 2020; the largest proportion (43.9%) was accounted for by sports equipment expenditure at NT$58.69 billion, followed by sports lottery expenditure of NT$46.63 billion (34.9%), sports participation expenditure NT$23.04 billion (17.2%), sports spectating expenditure NT$4.36 billion (3.3%), and e-sports expenditure NT$860 million (0.7% of the total).
The Sports Administration began handling the Survey of the Sports Expenditure of the People of Taiwan in 2013 to track the sports expenditure situation of the people of Taiwan and estimate total sports expenditure as policy reference for the future promotion of the sports industry. The survey was conducted by Taiwan Trend Research in 2021; it was mainly conducted by telephone and took place between March 25 and May 31, 2021, adopting stratified random sampling, interviewing people between the ages of 13 and 79 nationally. 17,498 samples were valid (with 95% confidence level, sampling error was no higher than 0.74%). The main survey results were:
- Total expenditure on sports participation was NT$23.04 billion, down by 22.7% on 2020
Affected by the pandemic, total sports expenditure reduced in 2020 and 2021. In 2020, although there were some COVID-19 cases, the epidemic was controlled well and with civic sports centers, gyms and other sports venues enhancing epidemic prevention measures and implementing a real-name system, many people were still able to attend sports courses and go to sports venues to exercise. In mid-May, 2021 a level-3 warning was issued nationally and indoor sports venues closed. Although the warning was lowered to level 2 at the end of July, the risk of infection lowered people’s willingness to spend; also, many sports events were forced to stop or delay, giving total sports participation expenditure of NT$23.04 billion, made up of sports course expenses, simple sports instruction expenses, sports venue expenses, expenses derived from participation in sports events and sports club expenses, down by 22.7% on 2020, with the biggest fall seen by sports venue expenses.
- Total expenditure on sports spectating was NT$43.6 billion, up by 4.1% on 2020
In 2020, many sports events were cancelled because of the pandemic. Taiwan professional baseball was the first professional baseball to resume play in the world, but underwent different stages including being closed to spectators, banning food and gradual increase in the number of spectators. Affected by the various epidemic related restrictions, there was a big reduction in sports event spectating and derivative expenditure. With most sports events delayed or cancelled worldwide, people’s expenditure on buying or subscribing to media decreased. In 2021, “sports spectating entry tickets” and “sports event viewing derivative expenses” were NT$650 million and NT$430 million, respectively, up by 7.8% and 4.8% on 2020 as a result of an increased number of Chinese Professional Baseball League games and the interest whipped up by P.LEAGUE+professional basketball. Also, in 2021, sports events successively resumed around the world and the Tokyo Olympics, Paralympics and the IBF World Championship were held, attracting viewers to watch the Chinese Taipei team; “buying and subscribing to media” expenditure was NT$3.29 billion, up by 3.3% on 2020.
- Total Sports Lottery expenditure was NT$46.63 billion, up by 15.5% on 2020
In 2020, sports events were cancelled or delayed around the world. The Sports Administration and issuing unit activated an emergency resonse plan to reduce the impact of the halting of sports events. In 2020, sports lottery sales amount was down 2.9% compared to 2019 but still reached NT$40.36 billion.
In response to the staging of the Tokyo Olympics in 2021, the issuing unit provided an opportunity for people to bet on the games, bringing out new ways to play and activities for 16 Olympic sports to stimulate public willingness to place bets. According to the Sports Lottery statistics announced by the Sports Administration, the sales amount in 2021 reached a record high of NT$46.63 billion, up by 15.5% on 2020.
- Total sports equipment expenditure was NT$58.69 billion, down by 2.4% on 2020
In 2021, the total amount spent on sports clothes and sports shoes was NT$25.09 billion and NT$10.23 billion, respectively, down by 5.4% and 5.3% on 2020; however, due to the pandemic, people bought more sports equipment and did exercise at home through sports courses, allowing total spending on buying and repairing sporting goods and equipment and sports software products to rise slightly compared to 2020, totaling NT$22.04 billion and NT$150 million, respectively.
The Sports Administration stated that the Survey of the Sports Expenditure of the People of Taiwan has been commissioned annually since 2013. The results of this survey have been posted on the Sports Adminustration official website （https://www.sa.gov.tw/PageContent?n=161）; as well as reference for research in the area of sports, it can also serve as reference for operation of sports industry businesses, as well as providing reference for government sports industry policy or guidance direction decision-making.