It’s been a heady two weeks for Indian cricket in Sri Lanka where the Asia Cup was staged. First, the thumping win over Pakistan before Rohit Sharma’s troops made a farce of the final by not even getting Sri Lanka a chance to compete.
From a marketing perspective, while such one-sided encounters leave fans craving more, what matters is October 14 when India and Pakistan clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Even plane tickets have shot through the roof: there’s been a 200% to 300% uptick in the price of a round-trip flight ticket during the match week, Google flight data revealed.
Vibes of India highlighted how desperate cricket lovers were booking beds in hospitals since hotel tariffs around that day became unaffordable.
Digital travel platform Agoda has already reported a 1,702% increase in searches for stays in Ahmedabad. “Recently, we’ve seen a huge spike in travel, driven by live events and global sports tournaments. The World Cup has always been one of the most sought-after events in India, and it’s great to see a rise in interest from international travellers as well,” Krishna Rathi, Agoda Country Director, India, Sri Lanka and Maldives told a national daily.
Rajesh Magow, co-founder and group CEO, MakeMyTrip, told the paper, “Ahmedabad is seeing the maximum traction for hotel and homestay bookings, followed by Chennai and Dharamshala for the Indian team’s matches.”
An Oyo spokesperson added, “Ahmedabad in particular has seen bookings jump by a whopping 777% since the World Cup schedule was announced. We are seeing more traction for mid-premium to premium hotels currently. This demand is expected to grow even further as the tournament approaches, as most fans tend to book their accommodation only after securing a confirmed ticket for the event.”
