NEW DELHI: Cheering the Indian cricket team in person during their ICC World Cup campaign in ’07 will not come cheap. The seven-to-20 day packages –– which includes return air fare, stay in specially chartered cruise ships or private villas, and tickets for India-matches –– will range anywhere between Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 7 lakh per person.
Even in case of corporates looking at flying in top executives, dealers and agents as part of incentive tours, only top performers are likely to make the grade. Not surprisingly, bulk of those who will visit the Caribbean in the Summer of ’07 - about 70% - are likely to be coporate-sponsored, and the remaining being high net-worth individuals and families. Those visiting friends and relatives (VFR), and honeymooners would be the other target market.
As per initial estimates by travel trade, despite the high cost of tour packages, 4,000-5,000-odd cricket-crazy Indians are expected to closely follow the fortunes of their team in West Indies next summer. Interestingly, NRIs from US, UK, Canada, and Middle East are likely to be there in bigger numbers, ranging between of 10,000-15,000. Typically, an eight night cruise-package from Delhi or Mumbai comes for anywhere between Rs 3.4 lakh to 4.5 lakh per person, while a 12-night package ranges between Rs 3.5 lakh and Rs 4.7 lakh, and a 20-day tour will set one back by Rs 5-7lakh. This will include return airfare to UK or some point in mainland Europe, followed by chartered flights to the Carribean to board the cruise, which move around in three or four islands, depending on the match venue.
Given the paucity of hotel rooms in the Caribbean, cruise ships, such as Carnival Destiny, are likely to act as floating hotels. “The cruises will have on-board entertainment and various Indian meals options,” said a senior executive from SOTC Sports Abroad, one of the official tour operators for the ICC tournament in India. Already many hotels in the four and five-star categories are quoting room rates varying between $300 to $1,000 per night, during the tournament days. Several private villas are also on offer for family stay, but a week’s rent can vary anywhere between $10,000 to $30,000, depending on amenities and location. “
Many hotels are insisting on a compulsory stay for at least a week,” said a travel agent who’s recently back after a Caribbean visit. Some of the island nations are working to make available bed&breakfast accommodation for budget travellers. Travel agents say even a customised package for an individual traveller can cost upwards of Rs 2lakh per person for a seven-day tour.
All the authorised tour operators are taking an initial non-refundable advance while booking a package tour, ranging between Rs 60,000 to Rs 1 lakh person, with flexible payment options for the remaining spread over two-three months. As per initial estimates by travel trade, around 250 group and individual packages to the Caribbean have already been booked.
“There have been confirmed bookings by dozen-odd corporates,” said a senior executive from Friends Globe Travels, one of the five authorised operators. SOTC Sports Abroad is in talks with some banks for easy credit facilities for individual travellers.
Travel operators point out that with tour packages being similarly priced, the differentiation will be in terms of services and extra frills offered by each. Expect operators to pack in expert match analysis by some cricket celebs, night-outs in beaches and a host of soft adventures, to keep off-cricket interest levels high.
Rajeev Nangia, assistant director, Trac Representation, which represents Jamaica Tourism in India, feels the ICC World Cup ’07 could well be the trigger for well-heeled travellers from India to discover the Caribbean.
Source : Et