Visa applications for travel to India have increased due to the ongoing ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup.
Online visa application centre BLS International has seen an increase in visa applications for travel to India compared to last year.
“We have seen a surge in international travellers wanting to come to India during the World Cup. In the countries where we work for India, we have seen an increase in visa applications to India. In September this year, compared to last year, there has been a 5-10 per cent increase in visa applications to India,” said Shikhar Aggarwal, Joint Managing Director, BLS International.
Most customers are from the UK, Australia and the US, mostly expats, said Mohak Nahta, founder of the online visa application platform. “Most customers have chosen dates between the semi-finals and finals. And we have seen a 280 per cent increase in the last month (September).”
He added that the surge in visas for travel to India due to the World Cup represents a significant opportunity for India’s tourism industry. “It shows the potential for a significant boost in tourism, not just during the tournament but potentially as a long-term impact. It’s an excellent opportunity for India to showcase its unique culture, rich history and diverse attractions, leaving a lasting impression on visitors and potentially inspiring return visits and positive word-of-mouth,” added Nahta.
For the Cricket World Cup, there is an increased influx from top cricketing nations such as the UK, Australia, the Netherlands, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, according to online travel platform Booking.com.
“Mega sporting events, such as the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023, have a strong potential to bring together fans from around the world and foster a sense of shared excitement. Travel booking data shows a significant increase in inbound travel, with flight searches from cricketing nations to India up 15 per cent year-on-year for departures between 1 October and 20 November 2023,” said Santosh Kumar, Country Manager for India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia at Booking.com.
Australia has seen a 31 per cent increase in searches to India for October departure dates compared to September, according to Booking.com, the official accommodation booking partner for the tournament. It added that England has seen a 10 per cent increase in searches to India for the same period.
“Major sporting events held in India result in a large movement of travellers and help India gain visibility, especially among foreigners. International travellers who come to the country for such sports tournaments not only attend the event but also plan leisure trips. This also leads to word-of-mouth, which helps boost tourism in the country. Sports tourism is an emerging vertical and there are big events in various sports disciplines,” says Aggarwal.
