MUMBAI, August 22, 2022: As India’s major religious holidays take place during late August and September, data from Thomas Cook and SOTC Travel monitors an increase in holiday bookings.
Holidays associated with Hindu festivals lasting up to 10 days, such as Ganesh Chaturthi and Navratri/Durga Puja-Dusshera, followed by Diwali (October and November) burn holiday bookings. Additionally, schools are closed for their mid-term break, further increasing the demand for family travel.
SOTC Travel President and Country Head Holidays Daniel D’Souza noted, “India’s festive season presents the perfect opportunity to travel, especially for families with schools closing for their mid-term break and working professionals taking time off and traveling back to their hometowns to celebrate with their families.
To capitalize on the high demand during this peak festive period, Thomas Cook (India) Limited and its group company, SOTC Travel, have launched a wide range of holidays to international and domestic destinations – with a range of offers and special offers .
Destinations online to benefit
Top demand destinations include short-haul/visa-friendly destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Maldives, Mauritius; also Nepal and Bhutan in the Indian subcontinent.
The most preferred long-haul and medium-haul destinations are USA (for visa customers), Australia, New Zealand, Turkey, Jordan, Egypt, Europe, UK. Local favorites include Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Ladakh, Rajasthan, Kerala and Goa.
Key segments driving demand for the festive season include:
• Multigenerational families/couples: 78% seek quality bonding time together
• Migrant labor professional segment in India: 66% inclined to travel home and celebrate with their families
• Millennials: 71% are open to a mini-cation with their group of friends or a solo vacation
Indians are value seekers, and hence to speed up bookings, companies have announced a number of special offers like Buy One Get One Free, Early Bird Discounts and Travel Now Pay Later.
Cruise vacations represent a great value proposition: an all-inclusive holiday filled with entertainment/activities for all age groups, a variety of dining experiences and sailing to multiple destinations with shore excursions – without the hassle of check-in/check-out -out. transfers, etc. With cruises witnessing an increase in demand, Thomas Cook and SOTC are offering value deals on cruise holidays such as children under 18 travel free on Costa Cruises Dubai sailings, discounted fares on selected Royal Caribbean and NCL (Norwegian Cruise Lines ) Cruises to Europe.
India’s couples and solo travelers (30 to 45 years old) are showing a strong preference for spiritual tours that include meditation, yoga and wellness programs such as Yoga/Ashram Centers in Coimbatore, Dharamshala and Rishikesh; Panchakarma Program in Kumarakom, etc.
Thomas Cook and SOTC’s festive range of offerings also extends to its ready-to-book and customized experiences, including outdoor and adventure activities such as safaris in India’s premier national reserves, cycling, hiking/trekking, camping, rafting white water and paragliding.
Thomas Cook (India) Limited President and Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Rajeev Kale said, “To encourage our customers, we have introduced a wide range of festive holidays in customers’ favorite destinations filled with unique experiences and special offers on our cook-to-book and customized itineraries to ensure great value for money. Customers can make the most of our air holidays with Vistara Getaways, Air Arabia Holidays and Emirates Holidays.”
SOTC President and Country Head – Holidays Daniel D’Souza said: “India’s festive season presents the perfect opportunity to travel, especially for families with schools closing for their mid-term holidays and working professionals taking time off and traveling back to their hometowns to celebrate with their families.
