Cricket season increased local travel, search for bookings doubled in small cities, Airbnb reports…

India is seeing a huge increase in local travel during the cricket season, and the cities associated with it have also seen a significant increase in Airbnb bookings. The latest data from Airbnb shows that bookings and searches are increasing in cities where big cricket matches are taking place. Travel demand has increased especially not only in metro cities but also in smaller cities, which shows that big sporting events are reshaping India’s tourism map.

Let us tell you, the major cricket tournaments held between February and May have boosted the demand for travel in small cities. Emerging cricket centers like Ranchi, Thiruvananthapuram, Jaipur and Lucknow have seen a significant increase in searches and bookings. According to Airbnb’s internal data, searches have increased by 120 percent year-on-year in Ranchi, 110 percent in Thiruvananthapuram, 70 percent in Jaipur and more than 60 percent in Lucknow.

At the same time, during big cricket matches like India vs Pakistan match and World Cup, an increase in bookings was also seen in foreign countries. Searches for accommodation by Indians in Sri Lanka’s Colombo city increased by more than 325 per cent during the India-Pakistan match on February 14-17. Similarly, searches in Ahmedabad also increased by 170 percent between March 7-10, strengthening Ahmedabad’s position as a cricket destination.

At the same time, data from Airbnb has also revealed that cricket travel has become a part of a generational change. Especially Gen Z, who are now planning to travel for cricket matches. Nearly 60 percent of Indian Gen Z say they will travel to watch live cricket matches in 2026. Additionally, 70 percent people would prefer to travel with friends or family. Not only this, they are also increasing their trips to spend longer time after the match, making these trips even more immersive and experience-led.

Let us tell you, during the cricket season, Indian travelers are now moving beyond short trips and giving preference to group and family-friendly experiences. Search data in cities like Ahmedabad, Kangra, and Visakhapatnam clearly shows that people are now looking for complete homes and homes with two or more bedrooms.

Amanpreet Singh Bajaj, Country Head, India and South-East Asia, Airbnb, said, “Cricket has long connected the nation with emotion and now the same energy is being reflected in travel. People are extending their stays to make match days memorable and experience the neighborhood in a real way.” He also said that cricket travel is not limited to just the stadium, but it also benefits the local communities.

Let us tell you, as India’s tourism ecosystem evolves, cricket-led travel is expanding beyond the traditional gateway cities to smaller cities. Looking at the long journeys during major cricket competitions and the tourism demand outside the big cities, it is clear that cricket is now giving a new shape to the tourism of the country.

The local hospitality ecosystem is also benefiting from this change, as visitor activity is now spread to different cities across the country, thereby distributing tourism demand geo-graphically.