The presence of a large Diaspora population from cricket-fanatic countries like India, Pakistan and Australia appears to have created a new form of the tourism and hospitality domain in the US.
Founded by an Indian-American couple from Bihar, Florida-based Cricketbuster is trying to capture this “cricket mania” among the Indian-American population and those from the cricket-playing nations by offering them customisable travel packages that include official match tickets, hotels, flights, cruises and many other attractions for international cricket tournaments and the all-important T20 leagues all across the world.
“We are developing sports e-commerce here. We got approval from the International Cricket Council (ICC). We have the right to sell the packages. (Cricket match) tickets are also included in the package. We are creating an experience,” Vinny Kumar, chief operating officer of Cricketbuster, told PTI in an interview.
Kumar along with his wife Rashmi Kumar co-founded this company a few years ago. Beginning with the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup in India last year, Cricketbuster is the official OTA (online travel agency) for the ICC.
“It’s just not that you’re buying a ticket or coming to the stadium. Suppose you’re going to New York because we have an India-Pakistan match there this year… you don’t know which hotel you have to stay in, how far you stay from the stadium, and what other attractions you want to visit in New York,” Kumar said.
“So, we have an all-inclusive package, which has an official match ticket, which is a tough spot to find. In addition to that, we can also help you to find the right hotel, right intercity transfers,” he said in Orlando this week, where he had come to attend the annual convention of Asian American Hotel Owners Association.
“It’s like a one-stop shop, you can just buy the package and you go to the stadium, watch the game and come back. And we will take care of the entire trip. This is what we are trying to do. We have received support from the ICC. We are the only company in the United States who takes care of that,” Kumar said.
The company was founded by the Kumar couple in 2019, but soon the COVID-19 pandemic stuck. However, in 2021, Cricketbuster got its first tournament in Dubai, and it took almost 500 fans from the United States to the United Arab Emirates.
“This year we have the T20 World Cup in the United States. It’s a historical moment for most of the cricket fans in the US. This is like a game changer. We are helping folks to get the official match tickets because of a lot of scams going on. That’s why the ICC appointed us to make sure all the fans get the tickets from the right channel,” said Kumar, an IT entrepreneur by profession.
A cricket fan himself, Kumar said having international cricket matches in the US was a dream for him and many like him.
“It’s not that we have fans only from India. We have fans from Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Australia, England, and also from Nepal and Sri Lanka,” he noted.
For the much-hyped India-Pakistan match in New York, Cricketbuster has created two packages.
“So like if you are coming all the way from California, then you have to watch only one match. You have to watch both, so we have an intercity package which costs USD 1599 per person which has intercity transfer and also two-match combo tickets. That package is very popular and people are taking those,” he said.
For somebody who wants a better experience, they have to pay another USD 100 more, it’s going to be USD 1699, he said.
[ad_2]
Source link
Fly91, a new regional airline, took flight with th e inaugural flight being flagged off by Union Minister for Civil Aviation and Steel, Jyotiraditya Scindia. The maiden journey departed from Manohar International Airport (MOPA), Goa, destined for Agatti Islands in Lakshadweep.
From Goa’s Manohar International Airport, the flag off for the first-Goa based airline was done by Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant in presence of Union Minister of State for Tourism Shripad Naik, Goa Tourism Minister Rohan Khaunte, Rajya Sabha MP Sadanand Shet Tanavade, and Fly91 CEO Manoj Chako and others.
In his address, Scindia hailed the transformative growth of India’s aviation sector under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. He emphasised the government’s commitment to expanding air connectivity to tier 2 and tier 3 cities through the UDAN scheme. The scheme aims to elevate domestic air traffic to 30 crores by 2030, a significant leap from 6 crores in 2014.
“Fly91 will primarily connect tier 2 and 3 cities, along with other destinations in India. The First Flight is directly connecting Goa to Agatti (Lakshadweep) following the vision of Hon’ble PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji. The airline will give a great boost to Dekho Apna Desh and tourism in Goa. I wish all the best to Fly91 for a bright future,” Goa CM Sawant said.
Fly91 announced that scheduled flights will commence from March 18, 2024, connecting Manohar International Airport, Goa, with Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Jalgaon, Agatti, Pune, and Nanded. Additional routes from Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Pune to Sindhudurg, Jalgaon, Nanded, and Goa will be introduced in a phased manner.These new connections are poised to meet the growing demand for enhanced connectivity across the nation, fostering tourism, trade, and commerce. Fly91 said it aims to deliver affordable, punctual, safe, and convenient travel experiences for passengers.
The event in Delhi was attended by Fly91 Chairman Harsha Raghavan, Asangba Chuba Ao, Joint Secretary MoCA, along with officials from AAI and the Ministry of Civil Aviation.
Fly91 is a pure play Regional Airline based in Goa, that will connect unserved and under served Tier II and III cities. Fly91 will operate a young fleet of ATR 72-600 aircraft.
Goa plans to introduce co-working spaces on Morjim and Ashwem beaches, aiming to attract European and high-spending tourists for an all-around experience beyond the beaches. The state government aims to offer nomad visas, inviting people to work and enjoy the beaches. The tourism department focuses on regenerative tourism, involving locals, culture, cuisine, festivals, temples, and churches.
[ad_2]
Source link
In a momentous occasion, Air India Express marked the inauguration of the Maharishi Valmiki International Airport Ayodhya Dham by launching its maiden flight from Ayodhya to Delhi on December 30, 2023. The inaugural flight, IX 1769, took off at 17:23 hours, making Ayodhya the airline’s 45th destination and its third station in Uttar Pradesh, following Lucknow and Varanasi.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the new Ayodhya International Airport, and Air India Express was an integral part of this historic day. Aloke Singh, Managing Director of Air India Express, presented the first boarding pass of the flight to the guests at the Ayodhya airport, marking a significant milestone.
Singh expressed pride in directly connecting Ayodhya to major metropolitan cities such as Delhi, Bengaluru, and Kolkata right from the commencement of operations at the airport. These cities, being vital hubs on the airline’s network, offer convenient one-stop itineraries for pilgrims and tourists from the Northern, Southern, and Eastern parts of India to reach Ayodhya.
The Ayodhya to Delhi route will be served daily, while flights to Bengaluru and Kolkata will operate on a tri-weekly basis. Passengers can make bookings through the airline’s award-winning app and website, airindiaexpress.com, along with other major booking platforms.
his announcement follows the recent news of IndiGo’s inaugural operations from the soon-to-be-inaugurated Maryada Purushottam Shri Ram International Airport in Ayodhya, starting from December 30, 2023, connecting Delhi. Additionally, commercial operations from Delhi to Ayodhya will commence from January 06, 2024, followed by flights from Ahmedabad to Ayodhya starting January 11, 2024.
Air India Express already operates both international and domestic services from Uttar Pradesh. The airline has a weekly schedule of 21 flights connecting the sacred city of Varanasi to Bengaluru and Sharjah. Furthermore, with 60 weekly flights from Lucknow, Air India Express links the capital city to Dubai and other prominent Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, and Pune.In a bid to enhance customer experience, Air India Express recently introduced the Vista VIP, a business class-like product featuring wider seats, increased legroom, Gourmair hot meals, additional baggage allowance, and Xpress ahead priority boarding services. Moreover, the airline made history by becoming the first to operate a direct flight from Surat to Dubai on the same day the Surat International Airport inaugurated its new international terminal.
[ad_2]
Source link
The Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, participated in this year’s ITB Asia exhibition, held in Singapore from October 25 to October 27, putting special emphasis on inbound and sustainable tourism as it strives to position India as a premier international destination.
According to the Ministry, the primary objective was to promote inbound tourism to India globally, particularly in the Asia Pacific region, under the banner of ‘Incredible India! Visit India Year 2023.’
Singapore and the Southeast Asia region are of paramount importance for India, especially for Buddhist tourism, owing to the connectivity between the two regions, with approximately 150 flights operating per week. This year has been designated as ‘Visit India Year 2023’, with a focus on India’s positioning in key international markets.
The Ministry of Tourism has been particularly pushing sustainable tourism in the country and now, it is looking to spread the messaging to the world. Ahead of India’s recently concluded G20 Presidency, the country has launched a national strategy for sustainable tourism aimed at making the Indian tourism sector more resilient, inclusive, carbon-neutral, and resource-efficient, all while safeguarding natural and cultural resources.
The strategy encompasses seven key pillars that encompass environmental, economic, and socio-cultural sustainability, biodiversity conservation, and creating awareness through skill development and entrepreneurship, which were also a key of G20 discussions.
The Mcleodganj-Bhagsunag-Tau Chaola road and Hiru Dasalan-Tamru Chaola road are set to be constructed near Dharamshala. Besides the 11 eco-tourism sites earmarked, a multitude of other projects is in the pipeline, including an international-level convention center in Dharamshala, a Zoological Park in Bankhandi, an Old Age Wellness Resort, a tourism village, Kangra Heliport, among others.
Its Travel for LiFE program has also been designed to instigate significant behavioural change among tourists and tourism businesses. The Ministry of Tourism’s participation at the exhibition especially focused on capturing the region’s attention towards India’s thematic products. These include adventure, wellness, Himalayas, eco-tourism, sustainable tourism, and exotic wildlife. The Incredible India pavilion at the event was inaugurated by Shilpak Ambule, the High Commissioner of India to Singapore.
The India contingent this year included several Destination Management Companies (DMCs), the Indian Railways Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) and the Hyderabad International Convention Centre.
Separately, the State Government of Goa, as well as UT administrations of Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir, and Puducherry, participated to exhibit their respective tourism offerings.
[ad_2]
Source link