Game Plan

The Indian football team is not in the reckoning but the FIFA World Cup does appear to have enough enthusiasts. While Delhi restaurants will screen the matches,many football fans are making summer plans for South Africa in June. “It’s quite common for Indians to travel abroad for important sporting events,” says Kashmira Commissariat,COO,Outbound Division,Kuoni India. Her firm has tied up with Emirates for deals for travellers to attend one match of their preferred team in Johannesburg,Cape Town or Durban during the Category A stage. Costing Rs 1.84 lakh upward per person,this includes economy class tickets from any of the Emirates gateways in India to one of the three destinations in South Africa,transfer between airport and hotel,accommodation (three star),transfer from hotel to the match venue and the match ticket. Other packages for round of 16 quarter-final,semi-final and final matches are also available.

Cricket might be the biggest draw in the sub-continent,but travel firms are certain that football is a not so distant second. “We may be a cricket-crazy country but there are many young football fans. We have received enquiries from groups of youngsters and father-son duos,” says Dimple Gandhi,director of Cutting Edge Events. The official travel partner of FIFA from India,they are offering five packages including a four-night package priced at Rs 2 lakh,which includes tickets for the opening ceremony,airfare and accommodation. The one-match four-night package is priced at Rs 1.8 lakh and the three-match eight-night package is priced at Rs 2.4 lakh. Packages for semi-final and final matches are for Rs 4 lakh upward. “The match ticket,in this case,is more expensive,” says Gandhi. She adds,“The rates are reasonable compared to the last FIFA World Cup in Germany,which is a more expensive destination.”

That the tournament dates are during the school summer vacations in India is another happy coincidence. “Most people make summer plans so they might just opt for South Africa,” says Anand Kandadai,vice-president,outbound tours,MakeMyTrip. The packages offered on Makemytrip don’t include match tickets but he is willing to guide people on procuring tickets. He also notes that the itinerary includes sightseeing and will be designed so that people can watch matches of their choice.

Among others,his 10-day package to Cape Town,Sun City,Johannesburg and Kruger is priced at Rs 1.80 lakh,and includes airfare,local sightseeing and three-star accommodation. With Yatra,seven-day tours across Johannesburg,Sun City and Cape Town is priced at Rs 1.10 lakh. Apart from queries from

individuals and families,Kandadai has had requests for corporate and group bookings.

A word of advice comes from him. He says,“It is wise to make the bookings at the earliest. The prices will go up closer to the event.” The action,off the field has already begun.