The travel industry is undergoing a remarkable transformation, reflecting the evolving preferences and lifestyles of travellers. Today’s traveller seeks immersive experiences, particularly in the realm of sports and major events. Sports tourism is emerging as a prominent and rapidly growing trend, with Booking.com, a leading digital travel brand, revealing in its APAC Travel Confidence Report 2023 that a staggering 56% of Indian travellers are eagerly anticipating major events, including sports tournaments, in the year 2023.
What is Sports Tourism?
Sports tourism is a type of tourism that involves travelling to either observe or participate in a sporting event. It can be a major economic driver for a destination, as it attracts visitors from all over the world.
There are two main types of sports tourism:
Spectator sports tourism: This involves travelling to watch a sporting event, such as the Olympic Games, FIFA World Cup, or Super Bowl.
Participatory sports tourism: This involves travelling to participate in a sporting event, such as a marathon, cycling race, or golf tournament.
The Global Enthusiasm
Major sporting events, such as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 – where Booking.com serves as the official Accommodations Booking Partner, possess the unique ability to unite fans from across the globe, fostering a sense of shared enthusiasm. According to Booking.com’s data, there has been a significant increase in inbound travel, with flight searches from cricketing nations to India experiencing a remarkable 15% year-on-year growth for departures between October 1 and November 20, 2023.
Cricketing Nations Flock to India
Booking.com’s flight data reveals the top five cricketing nations that are eagerly visiting India from October 1 to November 20, 2023. These include the United Kingdom, Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka. Notably, Australia exhibits a substantial 31% surge in searches for departure to India in October compared to the preceding month of September, while England records a 10% increase in searches for October departures.
Ahmedabad: The Epicenter of Excitement
With the highly anticipated India vs. Pakistan cricket match on the horizon, Indian travellers are brimming with excitement. This palpable enthusiasm is translating into a significant surge in air travel searches for the host city, highlighting the strong connection between sports fervour and travel enthusiasm.
Delhi-Ahmedabad and Mumbai-Ahmedabad emerge as the top-searched routes for October 13 and 14. Interestingly, Ahmedabad, the host city for the match, has climbed to the second-highest position among searched routes for these dates, surpassing its usual rankings. Ahmedabad, a city that rarely finds itself among the top 20 routes on an average day, is now witnessing a staggering 1550% increase in searches for accommodations compared to the same period last year.
Santosh Kumar’s Perspective
Santosh Kumar, the Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia at Booking.com, commented on these trends, stating, “Sports tourism is rapidly gaining momentum in India, capturing both hearts and minds. Events like the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 have immense potential to boost tourism in our nation’s host cities and provide a splendid opportunity to showcase their hospitality and rich culture. It’s heartening to see travellers from around the world flocking to India during this historic moment in cricket history.”
Where Passion for Travel Meets Sports
Perhaps the most intriguing insight is that seven out of the ten most searched destinations between October 1, 2023, and November 20, 2023, are the host cities of the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023.
Top Domestic Destinations by Indian Travelers in India (October 1, 2023 – November 20, 2023):
- New Delhi
- Mumbai
- Bengaluru
- Chennai
- Jaipur
- Hyderabad
- Puducherry
- Kolkata
- Ahmedabad
- Goa
Top Domestic Destinations for Flights (October 1, 2023 – November 20, 2023):
- Delhi
- Mumbai
- Goa
- Bengaluru
- Jaipur
- Varanasi
- Kolkata
- Kochi
- Chennai
- Ahmedabad
Top Searched Accommodation Types in India (October 1, 2023 – November 20, 2023):
- Hotel
- Resort
- Homestay
- Guest House
- Apartment
In conclusion, the fervour for sports and travel are intertwined in the hearts of Indian travellers, with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 serving as a catalyst for this booming trend in sports tourism. As the world eagerly watches, India’s host cities are gearing up to showcase their hospitality and culture on a global stage. The future of sports tourism in India appears brighter than ever.
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