As the countdown to these races begins, it’s clear that Indian sports enthusiasts are not just watching from afar—they’re packing their bags and heading straight into the action
With the Olympics behind us, India’s sports tourism scene is heating up as enthusiasts gear up for the next major sporting events: the Formula 1 Grand Prix races in Singapore and Abu Dhabi, Times of India reported.
Scheduled for September and December respectively, these high-octane events have sparked a significant increase in outbound travel from India.
According to Skyscanner, a leading travel search aggregator, there has been a staggering 189% increase in flight bookings for Singapore on September 18 compared to the previous day. This spike suggests that Indian fans are eager to immerse themselves in the pre-race atmosphere at the Marina Bay Street Circuit, where the Singapore Grand Prix will take place from September 20 to 22. The race, set for the evening of September 22, will see drivers navigate 62 laps of the 4.94 km track under the city’s dazzling lights.
For those looking to save on travel costs, Skyscanner offers some strategic advice: consider mixing and matching airlines and airports, and embrace flexibility by avoiding round-trip bookings. This approach could help fans maximize their savings while ensuring they don’t miss out on the excitement.
The excitement doesn’t end there. Abu Dhabi, which will host the final race of the 2024 F1 season from December 6 to 8, is also witnessing a surge in travel interest. Flight bookings for December 2 have jumped by 188%, as many fans plan to arrive early and soak in the event’s festive atmosphere. Another spike of 167% in bookings for December 7 suggests that some fans are timing their visit to witness the thrilling climax of the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.
The TOI had a quick check of airfares on Skyscanner shows that prices have risen in response to the demand. For instance, the cheapest one-way ticket from Mumbai to Singapore on race day, September 22, costs ₹12,172 on a non-stop Vistara flight. However, options are more limited from Delhi, with no tickets available for flights arriving in Singapore in time for the race.
***********************************************************
Readers
These are extraordinary times. All of us have to rely on high-impact, trustworthy journalism. And this is especially true of the Indian Diaspora. Members of the Indian community overseas cannot be fed with inaccurate news.
Pravasi Samwad is a venture that has no shareholders. It is the result of an impassioned initiative of a handful of Indian journalists spread around the world. We have taken a small step forward with the pledge to provide news with accuracy, free from political and commercial influence. Our aim is to keep you, our readers, informed about developments at ‘home’ and across the world that affect you.
Please help us to keep our journalism independent and free.
In these difficult times, running a news website requires finances. While every contribution, big or small, will make a difference, we request our readers to put us in touch with advertisers worldwide. It will be a great help.
For more information: pravasisamwad00@gmail.com