PACKAGES IN FULL SWING AS IPL PREPARES FOR TAKEOFF
Tour operators, airlines and hotels line up promotions, packages
dubai — The Indian Premier League (IPL) 2014 is generating high interest levels among the cricket lovers based in India and among those venturing out of their country and the NRI bases abroad, to see their sides in action in the first phase of the event in the UAE from April 16 to 30.
Though given a short time to organise and harness the best out of a last minute situation when the initial rounds of the IPL were assigned to the UAE, the big hands and the medium players in the travel and tourism sector have got themselves deeply into the act. For the seven-match per venue schedule at three world class stadia in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, airlines, travel operators and hotels have launched themselves into the event with specialised promotions and packages, tickets and visas included.
“The competition is fierce considering that only well organised packages from reputed companies can pull off a successful operation considering the short time to get the act together soon after the delib- erations were over as to whether it was South Africa or the UAE which would be assigned to host the initial phase of IPL 2014,” said a senior manager of a reputed private tour operator assigned for the IPL event and wished to be remain unnamed.
“There are also the smaller travel agents and hotels who link with lower rates, far lower than the top class fare which guarantees minimum star quality all through from pickup to drop at home,” the official added. The packages are available through the net where the leading brands starting from the mid-star class to the 5-star grading are into the promotion campaigns at full blast. Some of the companies are dealing with just the Indian leg of the IPL matches.
Some present the packages for all the matches, accommodation in 3 or 4 star hotels as per availability and visits to major tourist attractions in the destination city. “We will also undertake big groups and customise the package according to your requirements in the desired city,” say some package literature.
In less than four days time, the UAE leg of the Pepsi IPL 2014 will commence and the ticket sales have been most encouraging for the organisers and various players of the readymade entertainment extravaganza that has been a best seller from inception some six seasons ago. Organisers said the 100,000th ticket was sold on Wednesday, after ticket counters and online booking started after the weekend.
“A mere six days since online sales commenced. 12,500 tickets were purchased yesterday (Wednesday) — on the first day of the box-office and outlet sales,” a media release said, the same day. Fans are advised to purchase their tickets as soon as they can, to avoid disappointment, say the organisers. The most sought-after games are the two double-headers in Dubai, on April 19 and April 25 respectively. Tickets for the other matches are also being purchased at a brisk pace.
Arjun Ajai who spoke to the Khaleej Times on Tuesday while looking into the possibilities of buying a Friday seat in Sharjah had to be contend with a Sunday April 27 double header ticket instead.
“It will mean a long session after work and going to work early on Monday morning for some of us who only have a Friday off. But it might be a rare one-time opportunity for us in the UAE to see our sides in action right in front of us,” Arjun, an electrical engineer in Ras Al Khaimah, said on Wednesday.
“Tickets are available in different denominations,” according to the official IPL seat chart sheet, “The minimum price for the Abu Dhabi matches is Dh20 for a single match, and Dh30 for doubleheaders. In Dubai, a ticket for one match starts at Dh30, and Dh50 for double-headers.”