Cricket Fever Takes Over India’s Travel Plans

Key Points

• The IPL cricket tournament is driving a surge in domestic travel, hotel and train bookings, and is boosting local economies in host cities, though it’s also leading to increased travel-related scams.
• China has relaxed visa rules for Indian travelers and is issuing more visas to boost tourism, while India and China work to restore travel ties post-pandemic and political tensions.
• Indian travel is shifting toward purposeful trips, with high demand for hill stations domestically and increased searches for destinations like Tokyo and Abu Dhabi internationally.

Summary

India’s travel sector is seeing significant shifts in 2025, led by the Indian Premier League’s influence on domestic tourism, which has caused spikes in hotel and train bookings and benefited host cities economically. China, aiming to boost inbound tourism and repair bilateral ties, has relaxed visa requirements for Indian travelers and sharply increased visa issuance. Meanwhile, hotel chains like IHCL and Sarovar are expanding, Air India Express is launching new domestic and international routes from North Goa, and Indian travelers are increasingly seeking purposeful trips to both domestic hill stations and international hotspots.