HFA's 2024 Report

According to the Health and Fitness Association's (HFA) 2024 Global Report, the global shift towards health and wellness isn't just limited to the U.S.

Countries such as the U.K., Japan, and Spain have seen unprecedented growth in gym memberships and participation rates, indicating a promising outlook for the global health and fitness sector.

Key Highlights from the 2024 HFA Global Report

In 2023, Japan's fitness participation rate hit 4.5%, roughly translating to 5.6 million members, which marks a 21.4% increase from the previous year. This growth signals a strong commitment to fitness that is likely to persist, as noted by the HFA.

Japan is seen as a prime market by boutique brands. The Bar Method, known for its blend of yoga, Pilates, and strength training, is set to launch its first studios in Tokyo next year.

This move follows a partnership with Fast Fitness Japan (FFJ), which has acquired the master franchise rights to the Barre brand.

FFJ CEO Kio Yamabe expressed enthusiasm for introducing this exercise program to a broader audience in Japan, particularly targeting women to boost fitness participation.

Xponential Fitness is also expanding its presence in Japan, planning to open at least 50 Pure Barre and YogaSix studios through a master franchise deal with Sunpark Co. Ltd., which already manages various fitness and entertainment ventures.

Saudi Arabia's Growing Fitness Landscape

While Saudi Arabia's fitness penetration rate is below 7%, the HFA sees significant growth potential.

Currently, independent gyms dominate the market, comprising 74%, while fitness chains make up the remaining 26%. Women-only gyms are identified as a largely untapped market, with 25% of women noting a lack of nearby fitness facilities.

The Bar Method may also find success in Saudi Arabia, as noted by Sander van den Born, executive VP of international for Self Esteem Brands.

He highlighted the evolving social landscape in the region, where women enjoy more freedom and show greater interest in sports and wellness activities.

GymNation, a popular affordable fitness chain in the GCC, has experienced record-breaking demand for its first six clubs in Saudi Arabia.

Over 120,000 individuals registered their interest, and 12,000 memberships sold out in less than 72 hours, setting a regional pre-opening sales record.

Founder and CEO Loren Holland emphasized the strong pipeline for new GymNation locations across Saudi Arabia, anticipating significant growth with support from investment partners.

Expanding High-Value, Low-Priced Gyms

Japan and Saudi Arabia are poised for substantial fitness industry growth, with HFA projecting overall positivity for the sector.

Most club and studio operators (86.8%) expect membership growth in 2024, with over two-thirds anticipating increases of more than 5%. Revenue growth is also expected by 92.6% of operators.

High-value, low-cost gym chains like Crunch Fitness and Planet Fitness are eyeing international expansion.

Crunch Fitness brought on John Kersh, former Xponential Fitness chief international development officer, to spearhead both domestic and international growth efforts.

Planet Fitness, a leading big box gym, recently launched its first European location in Barcelona.

Initial locations will be managed through a joint venture with a franchise partner, with future expansions being franchised.

Vicente Bañobre, overseeing the expansion, expressed excitement about providing an affordable and premier fitness experience to the Sabadell community, seeing strong growth potential in Spain.

Source: athletechnews

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.