Tourism cashing in on cricket craze

<div class="section1"><div class="Normal">AHMEDABAD/VADODARA/SURAT: Saurabh Shah of Horizon Eperipheral Pvt Ltd has hit upon an innovative way of encouraging his employees. <br /><br />He has decided to send one of his marketing executives to Pakistan for the historic Indo-Pak cricket series.<br /><br />"I thought this was the best possible way to reward a hard-working employee," said Shah, who has kept the plan a closely guarded secret and intends to surprise the employee on Friday.<br /><br />With sparks sure to fly in the India-Pakistan face-off, several die-hard cricket fans are also making plans to hot-foot it to the other side of the border to cheer the Men in Blue.<br /><br />Among them is Vadodara-based 23-year-old law student Kabir Hathi, who is flying out on an invitation by Karachi-based internet pals.<br /><br />"It will be exciting to watch the match at Lahore," he said gleefully.<br /><br />The ambiguity about visa availability and the issue of security looming large over the series has failed to deter the spirits of cricket enthusiasts, who are being wooed by tour operators with special packages.<br /><br /><formid=367815><br /><br /></formid=367815></div> </div><div class="section2"><div class="Normal"><br />"Though safety and visas are a major area of concern we have been getting several queries since the series was announced," said Shreya Gupta, regional manager, Shree Raj Travels and Tours.<br /><br />"We have designed a seven nights-eight days package, including match tickets," said Reema Alate of Sachinam Travels, which had exclusive rights for the 2003 World Cup held in South Africa.<br /><br />Sanjeev Chhajer, vice president, Cox&Kings said, "We have already sold out our first lot of 500 bookings. People from smaller towns like Mehsana, Anand, Kalol, Nadiad, Junagadh, Ankleshwar and Rajkot too are evincing interest."<br /><br />While Cox & Kings has lined up three nights-four days packages inclusive of match tickets, two to five star hotel stays and travel by road and air ranging from US $500-1,270 per person, Shree Raj Travels & Tours is working on two nights-three days rail and air travel packages.<br /><br />Not to be left behind national carrier Indian Airlines too has come up with packages, including stay, from March 1 to April 30, 2004. It is throwing in a three nights-four days stay at Holiday Inn at Lahore and sightseeing along with air-fare at Rs 27,355, Rs 43,590 and Rs 60,860 for single, double and triple occupancy respectively from Ahmedabad to Lahore via Delhi.<br /><br /><formid=367815><br /><br /></formid=367815></div> </div><div class="section3"><div class="Normal"><br />"With the Delhi-Lahore flight packed till March 26, we are looking at pressing additional flights into service," explained Bharat Tikle, area marketing manager (Gujarat), IA, adding that the rush was mainly for one-dayers.<br /><br />But the lack of clarity on visas for the tour has thrown plans of many a tour operator out of gear and could play spoilsport for cricket fans. <br /><br />"We will come out with a special package but are waiting for clarity on visas," said a Thomas Cook official referring to the rush at the Pakistan embassy in Delhi.<br /><br />Joy Thakkar of Sachinam Travels in Surat says a group of ten people had booked with them but how many would actually go there would depend on the visa. "Who will be part of the Indian contingent of spectators in Pakistan will be clearer in the next few days," he added.<br /><br /><formid=367815><br /><br /></formid=367815></div> </div><div class="section4"><div class="Normal"><br />Industry sources pointed out that organising tours to Pakistan was hardly a cakewalk given the fact that most agents are not well-versed with the visa norms and processing procedures for the neighbouring country. <br /><br />"As we could not find a Pakistani agent for visa processing, we have tied up with a Delhi-based agent. We have been getting 30-40 enquiries and will finalise packages soon," said Thomas Oommen, general manager of Vadodara-based Prominent Tours.<br /><br />Some tour operators also apprehend that the number of queries generated may not translate into business given concerns over security. "We have had numerous inquiries but only three bookings," said Deepak Shah of Planets Aviation in Ahmedabad.<br /><br />A Travel Corporation of India official said: "Be it visa problems or security, inquiries have not translated into bookings."<br /><br /><formid=367815></formid=367815></div> </div>