csconstantine.com

{ MUMBAI: As World Cup begins, hotels in cities that will be hosting cricket matches in India are running to full capacity. Fans looking for last-minute accommodation in Mumbai, Delhi, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, etc will find it hardpressed to get confirmed or reasonably priced bookings in even one-star hotels. At smaller venues like Mohali and Nagpur, rooms are no longer available, said travel agents.

This trend, say travel agents, is also seen in Colombo, Sri Lanka, where hotels have put up 'sold out' banners. Bangladesh is the only venue where cricket enthusiasts can still book rooms. It's worth noting though, that in India at least, the majority of bookings have been made by cricket fans from other countries. Cricket lovers from South Africa, Kenya, New Zealand, Singapore, the UK and even the US had planned their holiday around the World Cup months in advance.

The travel and hospitality industry is making the most of cricket mania, and a majority of hotels have already increased their rates to coincide with match dates. "For example, all premier hotels in Colombo are sold out. A few hotels in Kandy or in the outskirts of Colombo, which may have unreserved rooms, are quoting rates that are 25% higher than usual," said Jay Bhatia, director, Tulsidas Khimji Travels. With demand for last-minute bookings rising, industry sources predict that the handful of unreserved rooms remaining in the Indian subcontinent is likely to go for a king's ransom. The packages being offered may not be affordable for average Indian travellers, say agents.

A travel agent in Fort, South Mumbai, said the demand for last-minute bookings is among foreigners and not Indians. "There are not many holidays in the months of February and March, and the examination season has restricted most people's travel plans," he said.

Most tour agencies are offering packages, which include match tickets, hotel reservations and travel arrangements, for anywhere between Rs 15,000 to 40,000 depending on the category of hotel and the placement of the seat in the stadium. Mayank Khandwala of Cutting Edge, which is handling travel packages for ICC, said that most of their packages are sold out. "More than 70-80% of our packages for matches in India have been booked. Colombo, too, is doing very well," he said.

There is a bit of good news for stragglers. Domestic flight tickets to World Cup destinations are very affordable. Rajesh Rateria, managing director, Cirrus Travels, said: "This is a non-travel season, particularly on domestic routes. This has helped fans procure low-priced tickets."

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Labels: Cricket, India, Times