Cricket Fever Drives Spike in Kathmandu-Mumbai Travel

With Nepal set to compete in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup to be held in India and Sri Lanka, a large number of Nepali cricket fans are expected to travel to India to watch the matches. The tournament begins on Saturday.

Indian media reports say ticket sales for four matches involving Nepal at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium are the second-highest after matches featuring India. Airlines and travel agencies have also reported a sharp rise in air ticket sales on the days Nepal play and the days immediately before, with flights nearing full occupancy.

Nepal will play four matches in the group stage. The team is scheduled to face England on February 8, Italy on February 12, West Indies on February 15, and Scotland on February 17.

Following the match schedule, tour and travel companies have already started selling special travel packages. Agencies are offering three-night, four-day and four-night, five-day packages. Airlines operating flights from Kathmandu to Mumbai are also reporting near-full occupancy. Travel agencies said they have been selling tickets mainly for Indian carriers IndiGo and Air India, while Nepal Airlines has also seen strong demand around match days.

Spokesperson for the state-owned Nepal Airlines Corporation, Kalpana Kafle, said occupancy on the Kathmandu–Mumbai route has been particularly strong. Although flight occupancy had been positive in recent months, bookings have surged further due to cricket fans travelling for the T20 World Cup.

“Due to the T20 World Cup, bookings are close to full capacity,” Kafle said. “Flights on February 1 and 4 were fully booked, and 140 tickets have already been sold for the February 8 flight.”

Nepal Airlines currently operates Airbus A320-200 narrow-body aircraft on the route, with 150 passenger seats. As of Thursday, 140 tickets had been sold for the February 8 flight, which coincides with Nepal’s match against England.

According to Kafle, bookings for other dates are also encouraging. Nepal Airlines does not operate daily flights on the Kathmandu–Mumbai route, instead flying twice a week—on Sundays and Wednesdays.

Travel and tour agencies have also reported a significant rise in demand for match-related packages. They said bookings have been easier as matches are being held in India, where Nepali travellers do not require visas.

Ajay Prajapati, business development manager at Guru Travels Limited, said many Nepali fans have booked air tickets to watch Nepal’s matches.

“Ticket sales for matches involving Nepal have been very strong, and we are also selling match tickets,” he said. “So far, 160 people have booked through our company to watch Nepal’s matches at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.”

Although bookings have been made for all four matches involving Nepal, Prajapati said demand has been highest for matches against England and West Indies. Guru Travels has priced its three-night, four-day package for the Nepal–England match at Rs 69,900, while the four-night, five-day package costs Rs 79,900. The same packages are being offered for matches against West Indies and Scotland.

He said the packages include bookings on Indian airlines such as IndiGo and Air India, with some return flights booked on Nepal Airlines.

Similarly, Suman Shrestha, managing director of Pride Nepal Travels and Tours Pvt Ltd, said there has been growing interest from Nepali fans planning to travel to Mumbai to watch the matches. He said around six percent of inquiries have already been converted into confirmed package bookings.

“Package sales for the matches are still ongoing,” Shrestha said. “Among them, the highest demand is for the three-night, four-day package for Nepal’s match against England.”