Travel and Tourism Industry to Hit Jackpot as ODI World Cup Nears
Indian travel and tourism companies are all set to hit the jackpot as the much-coveted One Day International (ODI) cricket world cup tournament is about to start on October 5. The industry is expecting a massive turnout at the tournament, which will generate humongous income. Cricket fans from across the world are expected to flock to India over the days of the tournament, which will end on November 19, 2023.
According to experts, many companies are offering packages for cricket enthusiasts who want to explore the destinations where the matches are being held. These packages include flights, hotels, and other amenities. In addition to the surge in flight bookings and hotel reservations, there has also been a sharp increase in apartment and homestay rentals.
The majority of travel agencies have been offering combo packages. For example, SOTC Travel plans to give away offers comprising camping, trekking, and paragliding in Dharamshala; a food trail in Lucknow and Kolkata; and safari and wellness in Gujarat, etc.
Similarly, Thomas Cook is stepping up its programs in a hub-and-spoke model to offer sightseeing and other experiences near the match destinations.
According to experts, there is a high demand for tickets to the final and semi-final matches of the cricket tournament, especially in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Kolkata. The cities of Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Dharamshala, Hyderabad, Lucknow, and Pune are also expected to attract a significant number of cricket enthusiasts.
In addition to the surge in flight bookings and hotel reservations, homestays are also becoming increasingly popular across all cities hosting matches. According to experts, homestays are traditionally preferred in leisure destinations but are currently enjoying strong interest among cricket fans.
EaseMyTrip, a travel booking platform, has reported a 46% increase in searches for travel and tickets ahead of the cricket matches. According to Nishant Pitti, the CEO of EaseMyTrip, even booking flight tickets to the host city three months in advance has become quite expensive. He also mentioned that hotel fares during the match period are significantly higher, with a surge of about 30-60% observed in routes like Delhi and Mumbai in October and November compared to typical fares for those months.
SOTC Travel has claimed that they have been witnessing a 100% increase in demand, and in line with this demand, hotel tariffs have surged by approximately 200-300%, especially in Ahmedabad, Mumbai, and Kolkata, where the semifinals and finals will be held. SOTC”s subsidiary, Thomas Cook, also saw an 80-100% surge in demand.
