Industry News
Industry News
Jul. 30, 2025
Looking to invest in racket sports in Indonesia but not sure which one fits best—padel, tennis, or badminton? Each sport brings its appeal, space requirements, and market potential. In Indonesia, where space efficiency, indoor preference, and affordability are key concerns, padel is emerging as a strong contender, especially among urban recreational developers and hospitality investors.
In this article, we compare padel with tennis and badminton in terms of space, popularity, cost, and suitability for the Indonesian climate and lifestyle—so you can decide which one to build or promote.
● Padel: A fast-paced racket sport played on a smaller enclosed court. Popular for its social, doubles-focused gameplay and low learning curve.
● Tennis: Traditional and globally popular, but it requires more space and has a steeper learning curve for beginners.
● Badminton: Very popular across Asia, especially in Indonesia. Played indoors with minimal space requirements.
Each sport has its fanbase, but when it comes to business potential in Indonesia, space usage, cost, and playability matter most.
● Badminton requires the least space. A single court needs around 13.4m x 6.1m, typically built indoors. Multiple courts can be placed side by side, making it highly efficient for community centers.
● Padel courts are 20m x 10m, smaller than tennis courts, and enclosed with glass or mesh fencing. This size makes padel courts ideal for urban areas or resorts with limited land.
● Tennis demands the most space, about 23.77m x 10.97m per court, not including space around the court for player movement and viewing.
Winner in space efficiency (with a premium experience): Padel
Indonesia’s tropical climate—with high humidity, rain, and strong UV—makes indoor or semi-indoor sports more practical.
● Tennis is traditionally outdoors, but requires high-cost maintenance when exposed to heat and rain.
● Badminton thrives indoors and already has strong infrastructure.
● Padel in Indonesia is mainly built as indoor courts (Half Panoramic or 360 Full Panoramic designs). These styles match local preferences for recreational facilities in malls, clubs, and hotels.
Insight from local procurement: Most buyers prefer building indoor padel courts without roofs, opting to install their structures to match property aesthetics and budgets better.
● Badminton has the lowest construction and maintenance costs.
● Tennis requires more land and upkeep, making ROI slower unless built in premium sports venues.
● Padel is cost-effective, especially with its rising popularity and faster player turnover per hour due to shorter match durations.
More importantly, padel attracts a wider demographic—from teens to seniors—thanks to its easy-to-learn gameplay, creating strong ROI potential for recreational investors.
● Badminton is a national sport in Indonesia—everyone plays it, but the market is saturated.
● Tennis has a niche but loyal following.
● Padel is rapidly growing, especially in urban centers like Jakarta and Bali, where lifestyle clubs and developers seek modern, social-friendly sports to differentiate their offerings.
Sales data from Fortune’s research shows increased inquiries for panoramic indoor padel courts, especially from resort planners and wellness-focused developers.
● Padel: Uses durable turf, tempered glass, and steel mesh. Minimal upkeep, especially in indoor environments.
● Tennis: Court surfaces wear out faster under tropical rain and sun.
● Badminton: Indoor wooden floors or synthetic surfaces are easy to maintain but can deteriorate with poor ventilation.
For long-term use in Indonesia’s humid environment, padel courts (especially those using PVDF-coated canopy materials) require less frequent replacement than tennis courts.
● Padel is designed for all ages and skill levels. Doubles format makes it a social sport, ideal for family entertainment, club events, and tourist activities.
● Tennis demands more skill and physical stamina.
● Badminton is highly competitive and fitness-driven, limiting appeal for casual players.
In Indonesia, where community engagement and family-friendly recreation are in high demand, padel fills a key gap.
If your goal is to create a profitable, modern, and space-efficient sports experience in Indonesia, padel outshines tennis and badminton in flexibility, ROI, and market novelty.
While badminton will always have its place in the local culture, and tennis appeals to serious athletes, padel is where lifestyle, profitability, and trend intersect.
At Fortune, we specialize in panoramic padel court solutions—both Half Panoramic and 360 Full Panoramic models tailored for Indonesian clients. From layout consulting to PVDF-coated materials designed for local weather, our team helps you create a standout venue that meets market demands.
Let’s build the next iconic padel experience in Indonesia—talk to Fortune today.
