Cricket Tourism Grows Travel Business, Despite Cost Increase - News

Cricket tourism is thriving despite rising hotel and flight prices, with tour operators reporting increased interest in sports-related travel, notably during the Indian Premier League (IPL) and other sporting events. The 2023 Cricket World Cup in India has already sparked interest from people, groups, and corporate institutions, demonstrating the event’s ongoing popularity.
According to Rajeev Kale, President, and Country Head, Thomas Cook India Ltd, demand for travel to match venues increased by more than 60-70 percent in April and May compared to the previous year. Corporate entities are also sending staff to various locations to watch IPL matches. SOTC Travel predicted a 30-40 percent increase in travel demand over the previous season, while DreamSetGo, funded by Dream Sports, the parent company of Dream11, is expecting roughly 3 lakh domestic supporters and 1.5 lakh overseas visitors for the Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Booking.com and Ixigo have also reported increased bookings and search searches, with IPL host cities experiencing a significant spike in travel demand. The mix of sporting excitement and prolonged long weekends has resulted in an increase in mini-break flight bookings, catering to the preferences of both families and travelers.