Category Archives: Agents

Signalling a clear intent to capitalise on the strong and growing opportunity presented by the India market, Thomas Cook (India), and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have signed a 3 year agreement with Air Arabia, the first and largest low-cost carrier (LCC) operator in the Middle East and North Africa. The partnership will deliver on a range of customisable air-inclusive holidays via a technology platform built by Thomas Cook India and SOTC. The exciting and extensive holiday portfolio will be curated by Thomas Cook and SOTC, with air inventory and exclusive fares being provided by Air Arabia. The partnership expands Thomas Cook India and SOTC reach with access to Air Arabia’s customer base in India and provides marketing investment to accelerate demand by targeting a range of India’s travel segments – across families, couples, millennials, groups of friends, seniors; also B-leisure customers. Air Arabia operates from 12 Indian cities (metros like Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and viable Tier 2-3 markets like Ahmedabad, Calicut, Coimbatore, Goa, Jaipur, Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram; Nagpur from Nov 2021) giving India’s travellers an opportunity to holiday across its extensive network of over 170 international favourites – spanning the Middle East, CIS countries, Africa, Europe and Asia, via easy access of its gateway – Sharjah. Indian consumers benefit via attractively priced bundled holiday products (air + land) that leverage the respective strengths of the industry leaders – Thomas Cook India, SOTC and Air Arabia. The partnership brings travellers the added advantage of a suite of ready-to-book holidays and customisable itineraries – all bookable via a simple and seamless online platform, conceptualised and built by Thomas Cook India & SOTC. Additionally, Thomas Cook & SOTC will also …

Sharing his comments on the Government of India announcing 100% capacity for flights, Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head- Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook India, says, “We welcome the Government’s announcement permitting domestic carriers to operate at 100 percent of their pre-Covid capacity from October 18, 2021. With the return of consumer confidence in air travel coupled with a surge in holiday demand for the festive season (across Dussehra-Diwali and then Christmas-Year end), the announcement could not have come at a better time. Additionally, the increased capacity will ease pressures on the supply side – with cascading impact on air fares. From a Corporate MICE a perspective too, the increased capacity offers significant scope for domestic incentive groups serving to catalyse overall recovery for the  travel and tourism industry.” Indiver Rastogi, President & Group Head – Global Business Travel – Thomas Cook (India) & SOTC, says, “Its about time that Indian Aviation opened up, we’ve been seeing flights filled up to the hilt till now; adding capacity will increase flights across routes therefore giving travellers more choices of timings thereby making it convenient for business travelers to manage their schedules and boost the confidence of travelers . This will also bring some relief on fares as airlines will seek to fill the capacity. We hope to see more flights put on the business/metro routes. We are witnessing a steady return of business from our corporate travellers and our SME segments and this announcement will infuse positivity, auguring well for much needed revival of the overall sector.”

Tourism Malaysia is participating for the third time at the third edition of the Gulf Travel Show (GTS) from 12 to 14 October 2021. As a platinum partner, Malaysia is having its own virtual pavilion with 13 booths consisting of Tourism Malaysia Dubai, Tourism Malaysia Jeddah, Langkawi Development Authority (LADA), Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC), together with three DMCs/tour operator partners, one product partner, as well as five hotels and resorts from the island of Langkawi. Following this year’s participation, Manoharan Periasamy, the Senior Director of Tourism Malaysia’s International Promotion Division for Asia & Africa says that GTS 2021 is a platform that allows industry players to share the development and implementation of safety for domestic and international travellers in preparation for reopening the borders, especially for the Middle East market. “Malaysia has successfully completed the vaccination of more than 90 per cent of its adult population against COVID-19, and as a result, domestic tourism has fully reopened effective Monday, 11 October 2021. In the meantime, Tourism Malaysia is gearing up in preparing to welcome more tourists and also continuing in promoting the #WeMissYou campaign ahead of the reopening of our international borders that is expected after we achieve 90 per cent complete inoculation nationwide,” says Manoharan. Nasaruddin Bin Abdul Muttalib, Chief Executive Officer of LADA adds, “On 16 September 2021, the government has announced the reopening of Langkawi as the pilot project for Malaysia’s domestic travel bubble, aimed at reviving the nation’s tourism industry. Langkawi has become the first holiday destination in Malaysia to open its doors to domestic tourists who are fully vaccinated. The visitors are also subject to the standard operating procedures (SOP) compliance and are required …

Sharing his expectations from the upcoming VirtuallyYoursSouthAfrica roadshow on October 20, Vuyani Dayimani, CEO – Eastern Cape Parks & Tourism Agency, says, “The Eastern Cape Province is the jewel of South Africa; it offers tourists authentic experiences from bungee jumping off the highest bridge in the southern hemisphere, to big seven safari, hiking diverse trails, being the birth and resting place of Nelson Mandela. Its hospitable people and unique culture and heritage, endless coastal line, myriad of outdoor activities, adventure sports, and urban life experiences spread across different regions make it a destination for all seasons. ECPTA hopes to be able to showcase all of this and more at the expo, after two years of presenting the destination to Indian Travel Trade partners, the agency seeks to see Eastern Cape included in more travel packages to South Africa with the focus on increasing bed nights and geographic spread.”

Sudesh Poddar, recently-elected president of Hotel & Restaurant Association of Eastern India, says, “In spite of several requests to all state governments we haven’t been able to get any relaxation of property tax. There has been no relaxation of excise license fees too. We have sent several letters and sent delegations to respective departments without any effect. We have met several ministries and relevant government departments with our requests, but we haven’t been able to resolve these issues.”  

The Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) will be launching another Bharat Darshan tourist train from Madhya Pradesh October 8 in a bid to promote religious tourism in the country. The launch comes days after the IRCTC started a similar ‘tourist train’, which is meant to explore the five northeastern states under the ‘Dekho Apna Desh’ initiative. These tour packages are meant to be all-encompassing, with the IRCTC team taking care of all the travel needs of the passengers.

Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) has done a special tie-up with Sarovar Hotels across India for offering special hotel rates to TAFI members. An initiative by the TAFI Hotels & Resorts Committee, the tie up will allow members to sell inventory of these hotels and resorts using these special rates for their clients. Jigar Dudakiya, Committee Representative, TAFI, says, “To use the facilities, TAFI members must have a TAFI logo and membership number on their email signature. The same will be verified and checked for authenticity by principals. Team TAFI is Pro-actively working to get more such deals to benefit their members.”

The Thailand government has renewed its pan-India visa processing mandate with VFS Global, the world’s largest outsourcing and technology services specialist for governments and diplomatic missions worldwide. VFS Global will cater to travellers from all over India through visa application centres and drop off centres as per the jurisdiction of the Royal Thai Embassy in Delhi and Royal Thai Consulate General in Kolkata, Mumbai, and Chennai. The company will manage all visa categories such as Visa TR, STV and long stay non- OA, non-B (employment) except medical treatment category.

Jay Bhatia, Vice President, TAAI recently visited the mega fam held by the Expo 2020. TAAI and Expo 2020 have tied-up to promote the Expo across its member travel and tourism companies through presentations, roadshows and Webinars for the next 6months. Talking about the fam, Bhatia said, “Wonderful experience of over 180 cultures from around the world with all countries participating at the Expo, which will be on from October, 2021 to 31st March 2021. This is a fantastic location for families and tourist who are desirous to see the future of various economies.”

The steady lifting of restrictions across India and international destinations, vaccine acceptance and the potential reopening of commercial flights, is giving rise to significant travel demand Additionally, India’s upcoming Festive Season is proving to be a powerful driver of travel desire. To capitalise on this high potential opportunity, Thomas Cook India, India’s leading integrated travel services company, and its Group Company, SOTC Travel, have launched a series of physical consumer roadshows across key source markets pan India. Travel intent is at an all-time high:  Thomas Cook & SOTC’s latest survey reveals that over 85% respondents are keen to holiday between October to December 2021; 77% preferring international travel and 82% domestic. However, the constant flux in entry-exit regulations and health-safety protocols can be challenging.  Thomas Cook and SOTC’s physical consumer roadshows have hence been conceptualised to guide and assist customers through the complexities of travel in this Covid-era. The companies’ experts are stationed at each venue to provide advice and guidance in planning a smooth holiday experience. Key consumer catchment areas have been selected across high potential source markets including metros like Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Chennai and Bengaluru mini-metros like Pune and Tier 2-3 locations across India, including Jaipur, Jodhpur, Indore, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Lucknow, Guwahati, Ahmedabad, Surat, Baroda, Nashik, Madurai, Coimbatore, Vijayawada, Mangaluru/Udupi, Nagpur, Bhubaneshwar, etc. To ensure customer convenience, most of the roadshows are being held on weekends, at the companies’ outlets and a range of easily accessible venues – in close proximity to residential areas. Special Offers at the Roadshows: Buy One Get One FREE! Companion Offer Early Bird Offers Family Discounts per family Taj Voucher of Rs 10,000.00 on India Extravaganza & Grand India Holidays Crazy …