Travel agents not enthusiastic about IPL

The slowdown and logistics involved in getting to South Africa, among other things, may not enthuse the Indian traveller from getting to the venues of the Indian Premier League (IPL) to cheer their favourite teams.
IPL is not an international tournament like the Twenty20 World Cup to be held in England a week after the IPL, which may draw sports enthusiasts. Besides, it would be difficult for foreign spectators to relate to very regional sounding teams such as Kolkata Knight Riders, Delhi Dare Devils or even the Rajasthan Royals, observes a travel agent. If the matches were held in Indian metros, it would cost the cricket-fan three times less the money he would fork out now to travel between venues in South Africa, a travel industry member said. Also, there is only South African Airways having direct flights from India. The expense to travel and stay in South Africa, further puts the IPL out of bounds, especially in the current environment of economic gloom.
“I don’t feel there is going to be much demand from India. Though some are marketing it very aggressively, but it is unlikely to draw much interest as the destination is expensive for normal times, and it is recession now,” said Mr Pradip Lulla, Acting President of Travel Agents Federation of India. Compact Travels’ Mr Subhash Motwani quips: “It (IPL) will eat a lot of newsprint and space in electronic media but nothing really for the travel market.”
Wooing the crowd
Nevertheless, it has not discouraged agents from wooing customers. About 5,000 packages for South Africa would be available for the next 2-3 months. And the Thomas Cooks, Carlsons and TCIs will hit the market with their offerings in the next few days, said Mr Rajinder Rai, President of Travel Agents Association of India. The starting price of packages, including air fares, would be around Rs 1 lakh, said Mr Rai. The return fare will begin from around Rs 40,000 and a 10-day-package would begin at around Rs 50,000.
Thomas Cook is still in the process of putting together packages, but Cox & Kings has some ongoing packages for South Africa. A seven-day package to Cape Town, Johannesburg and Sun City will cost Rs 65,674 a person, in addition to Rs 44,000 flight fare. While a 12-day trip to Cape Town, Oudtshoorn, Knysna, Sun City, Pretoria, Kruger National Park and Johannesburg would come for Rs 1,20,270 aperson, besides the airfare.
The Indian carriers, meanwhile, have received initial enquiries. Jet Airways told Business Line that it has received initial queries about operating charters to South Africa for the IPL season 2.
“However, at this point in time we cannot confirm anything,” the statement added. Responding to a similar query on whether Kingfisher Airlines, too, could forge an alliance with a carrier for ferrying people from Mumbai and Delhi for the IPL, the spokesperson said, “No announcement as yet. Work is in progress.”
Business Line