With India–Pakistan T20 World Cup game back on track, airfares to Colombo are zooming, as fans scramble to get to the Lankan capital to watch one of men’s cricket’s biggest rivalries play out on February 15 after weeks of uncertainty.
“Travel bookings to Colombo for the weekend of February 15 have doubled over the past three days compared to the average booking levels,” Rajesh Magow, Co-founder and Group CEO, MakeMyTrip, said.
Round-trip fares to Colombo have skyrocketed after Pakistan late on February 9 reversed its decision to boycott the game against India in a dramatic U-turn.
A round-trip from Mumbai is now priced at Rs 70,000, Delhi Rs 90,000–1, 00,000 and Hyderabad Rs 80,000. Fares for Bengaluru, Kolkata, Ahmedabad and Pune are in the Rs 60,000–65,000 range. Chennai and Cochin, which are much closer to Colombo, have surged to Rs 50,000.
Interest levels are strong despite the marked increase for last-minute bookings, Indiver Rastogi, president & group head, global business travel, Thomas Cook (India) Limited & SOTC Travel, told Moneycontrol.
According to travel platform Pickyourtrail, a one-way ticket to Colombo, which typically ranges between Rs 12,000 and Rs 17,000, is now touching Rs 20,000 to Rs 22,000.
On the platform, about 12 percent of travellers are opting for “Tactical Match Breaks” focussing on 2 to 3-night trips centered purely on the game.
The remaining are turning it into a five to seven-day holiday, blending the cricket fever with beach stays in Galle or the high-end culinary and nightlife scenes in Colombo.
Travel bookings around the India-Pakistan tie have ebbed and flowed with developments around the tie.
The fare flow
While the initial schedule sparked interest, the recent uncertainty around Pakistan’s participation created a temporary “wait-and-watch” period.
Since the tie was reconfirmed on the night of February 9, Pickyourtrail has witnessed a vertical spike in demand.
The India-Pakistan tie was back on after the Pakistani government instructed its team to play after discussions with the International Cricket Council.
Largest source market
With India already Sri Lanka’s largest source market for tourists, the World Cup, especially the high-voltage India–Pakistan clash, is expected to give a boost to travel.
In 2025, Sri Lanka received 23 lakh tourists, with Indian travellers accounting for the largest share, data shared by Sri Lanka Tourism Development Authority (SLTDA) shows. India, with 5.3 lakh arrivals, remained the leading source market in 2025, up 21 percent from 4.16 lakh Indian tourists in 2024.
The momentum has continued. Sri Lanka recorded 1.3 lakh international visitors in the first 15 days of 2026, with Indians accounting for the largest number at 23,786 followed by Russia with 14,785 tourists.
Anchor of Sri Lanka tourism
India isn’t just a source market, it is the undisputed anchor of Sri Lankan tourism, Hari Ganapathy, co-founder, Pickyourtrail, said.
"Recent trends consistently position Indian travellers at the forefront of international arrivals, reflecting a deep-seated preference for the island’s diverse offerings."
He added that with the convenience of Unified Payments Interface (UPI) integration, visa-free entry and the cultural proximity, Sri Lanka has firmly established itself as the go-to “neighbourhood getaway” for Indians.
"A tentpole event like this match acts as a high-profile validation of a travel corridor that is only becoming more seamless and robust," he said.
Premium inventory in Colombo is nearing capacity, Ganapathy said, adding the India-Pakistan match acts as a global advertisement, broadcasting Sri Lanka’s hospitality and infrastructure to a massive, captivated audience.
"The economic ripple effect is equally significant as the 'ancillary spend' across dining, local transport, and luxury retail provides a vital influx into the local economy. It transforms a single match into a long-term branding win, repositioning the country as a premier destination for both sports and leisure," he said.
Rastogi said Sri Lanka is witnessing strong travel interest, led by the marquee India versus Pakistan cricket fixture over the weekend that continues to evoke deep passion and sentiment among cricket aficionados. "Sports-led travel remains one of the key demand drivers in the market, and interest levels are strong despite marked increases in airfares."
Thomas Cook and SOTC recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Cinnamon Life at City of Dreams, known as South Asia's first and largest integrated resort, including gaming areas and a shopping mall, among others. The company plans to create products to drive visitations for the resort across India’s metros as well as Tier 2 and 3 markets.
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