Trends notebook #2
The esports boom
Not only does the world of video games have its major tournaments and sponsors, it now has streaming and television broadcasting rights. Faithful to its investment in the sporting field, Societe Generale has been sponsoring the GamersOrigin esports club since 2018. Increasingly popular, esports brought together more than 640 million spectators in 2022, with a combined turnover estimated at $1.38 billion (up 13.4% year-on-year2). And there is no shortage of events, including the world championship of League of Legends which took place this autumn in South Korea. League of Legends enjoys great popularity and has built up a phenomenal player base - with over 140 million monthly players worldwide.
2. https://palmer-consulting.com/lavenir-du-gaming-et-de-lesport/
Always at the summit
It seems winter tourism and ski resorts have not yet breathed their last. The French ski park, one of the largest
in the world, representing 17% of the world’s ski lift fleet, generates more than a billion euros in turnover every year.
The French resort market in total is estimated at 10 billion euros, with over 10 million tourists, of which 25% are foreigners1. Certainly, a market that is still flourishing while adapting its infrastructure to the challenge of global warming, with resorts now able to offer holiday-makers a varied experience all-year-round.
1. Source: skidata.io.
© Patrice Mestari / Naturimages; Colin Young-Wolf/ Riot Games; Getty Images
K-food: soft power, South Korean style
Just like K-Pop music, Korean cuisine continues to make its mark on the international scene. According to a South Korean government organisation, Paris, the world’s gastronomic capital, now has 250 Korean restaurants, significantly up from 120 in 2018. Another sign of Korean food being all the rage: in Parasite, Bong Joon-ho’s multi-award winning 2020 film, a mother mixes two types of Nongshim brand instant noodles. Subsequently, the stock exchange listed Korean firm saw its sales reach record levels in the United States, with a 26.5% increase. Certainly a tasty advertisement!
Japan: an innovative city emerging from the waters
With the now seemingly inevitable future rise in water levels, the seas could become new “habitable” zones and perhaps partly resolve the problem of large coastal cities submerging. In any case, this is the idea of the Japanese company N-Ark, which aims to create a self-sufficient floating city capable of accommodating 10,000 inhabitants and medical facilities by 2030.
This water-born city will be named Zenji, in reference to the Buddhist monk Dogen Zenji, an inspiration for many architects. Its impressive structure will combine modern skyscrapers, Buddhist temples and lush vertical gardens. Ultramodern transport, such as magnetic levitation trains, will aim to offer new eco-friendly ways to get around. By 2030, the future for Japan will have already arrived.
A new take on travel
A subtle blend of cultures
Interview by Laurent Issaurat, Head of Art Banking Services at Societe Generale Private Banking, with Sabrina Dolla,...
