The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 has captivated cricket fans around the world, with an unexpected surge of interest from India. Notably, major cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore have seen a significant increase in flight bookings to New York, according to travel data from Skyscanner.
Surge In Flight Bookings, Hotels & More For World Cup
Skyscanner, a leading travel search engine, reported a remarkable uptick in flight bookings from India to New York during the World Cup period. Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore have been the top three cities showing this trend. The United States is a popular travel destination for Indians, offering a plethora of attractions and experiences. The World Cup provides an additional incentive for fans to visit.
This is what the flight booking trend looked like:
- From Delhi to New York, the week of June 3rd saw the greatest booking volume of the month, with a 265% increase over the same week last year.
- Bookings from Mumbai to New York increased thrice during the week of June 17th compared to the same period last year. This shows an increase in booking volume ahead of the India vs Afghanistan match on June 20th and India vs Bangladesh on June 22nd.
- Bookings from Bangalore to New York increased by 1.2 times compared to last year during the week of June 17th. Bookings increased threefold for the week of June 3rd, compared to the same week last year.
Direct flights and improved air travel connectivity between India and the US have made it easier for fans to make the trip. The surge in flight bookings has been mirrored by a notable increase in hotel reservations. According to Skyscanner data, there is a significant demand for accommodation from tourists visiting St. Julian’s to watch the T20 event, with only 7% of rooms remaining available.
Future Of Sports Tourism
View this post on Instagram
The trend observed during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024 highlights the growing phenomenon of sports tourism. Fans are increasingly willing to travel great distances to support their teams and partake in the excitement of major sporting events. This presents opportunities for countries and cities to host international tournaments and attract global audiences. The economic impact of this trend is significant. Increased spending by tourists benefits multiple sectors, from aviation and hospitality to retail and entertainment. As more fans travel internationally to support their favourite teams and athletes, sports tourism is set to become a vital component of the global tourism industry.
The significant increase in flight and hotel bookings reflects the enthusiasm of fans for an international adventure.
Cover image credits: Canva