The travel landscape is evolving with a surge in sports tourism, as 56% of Indian travellers eagerly anticipate major events in 2023, including the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup. Booking.com, the official Accommodations Booking Partner of the tournament, reveals exciting trends:
- Seven of the top 10 searched domestic destinations (October 1 to November 20, 2023) are host cities: New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, and Ahmedabad.
- The top five cricketing nations visiting India during this period are the UK, Australia, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.
- Cricket enthusiasts are exploring alternative accommodations, with hotels, resorts, homestays, guest houses, and apartments being the preferred choices.
As sports and travel converge, the enthusiasm is global, with a 15% YoY growth in flight searches to India from cricketing nations for departures between October 1 and November 20, 2023. Ahmedabad, the host city for the India vs. Pakistan match, experienced a remarkable surge in searches and stays, demonstrating the strong link between sports and travel.
Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives, and Indonesia at Booking.com, notes the immense potential of sports tourism in boosting tourism and showcasing hospitality and culture. Interestingly, seven of the top 10 searched destinations are host cities of the ICC Men’s World Cup 2023, reflecting the fusion of travel and sports passion.
Top searched domestic destinations include New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Chennai, Jaipur, Hyderabad, Puducherry, Kolkata, Ahmedabad, and Goa. Additionally, the most sought-after accommodation types are hotels, resorts, homestays, guest houses, and apartments, highlighting the diverse preferences of travellers.
