a key and powerful source market for Thomas Cook India Company pioneers special direct flights ex Ahmedabad to Bhutan

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Ahmedabad (Gujarat) [India], January 10: Gujarat represents a critical and high-growth opportunity for Thomas Cook (India) Limited – India’s leading omnichannel travel services company. To leverage on this significant potential, Thomas Cook has rolled out a 2 pronged strategy:

1. Expanded Distribution & Omnichannel presence
2. Strategic Product Development

Extensive Distribution – 10 outlets across 5 cities in Gujarat. Top source markets include Ahmedabad, Baroda, Surat and Rajkot. Jamnagar, Bhavnagar, Anand and Mehsana are displaying noteworthy growth from Gujarat’s emerging tier 2 and 3 cities. 

Strong omnichannel presence – Phygital Clicks & Bricks model with apps (sales & servicing), chat bot, portal, call centres and expansive retail network.

Highlights: 

• Gujaratis displaying high year-round travel demand; unique experiences/destinations
• Strong appetite for Gujarati regional tours
• Growing demand for pilgrimages – Thomas Cook India expands Spiritual Tourism portfolio

Strategic Product Development: 

Thomas Cook has launched special holiday packages with direct flights to Bhutan ex Ahmedabad – capitalizing on strong outbound demand. 

This strategic move leverages a significant market gap, as no commercial air services currently operate between Gujarat and Bhutan. The six-night Bhutan itinerary has been meaningfully designed incorporating unique Bhutan experiences and authentic Gujarati cuisine, Veg/Jain meals — meeting a critical demand for Gujarati travellers.

Expanded its Spiritual Journeys portfolio: Thomas Cook’s spiritual tourism segment is witnessing an exponential growth – over 100% YoY for circuits like Char Dham, Ayodhya, Rameswaram, Amritsar, Varanasi and Prayagraj; Ramayana trails in Sri Lanka. While historically India’s seniors/Gen S comprised a key segment for spiritual tours, the Company is seeing strong demand from multigenerational families, honeymooners/couples, millennials/Gen Z. 

Special Gujarati regional/festive group departures like Albelu Europe, Aneru Europe, Adhbhut Asia with an experienced Thomas Cook Gujarati-speaking Tour Manager, comfort of Gujarati, vegetarian/Jain food preferences on tour. 

Ahmedabad-Gujarat Travel Trends:

Gujarati’s are avid travellers and in addition to peak vacation season, Gujaratis are maximizing on public holidays and weekends for multiple mini-cations

Gujarati-Specific Group Tours and Regional Departures Driving Demand: Gujarati customers have a strong preference for group travel. Tours with our Gujarati-speaking managers and pure vegetarian/Gujarati cuisine remain highly popular

Increased travel demand (40-45% Vs 2019); Increased spend appetite (25-30% Vs 2019)

Longer stays: Short vacations now extend to 5-6 days, while longer trips span 12-20 days, reflecting a shift towards more immersive experiences

Strong growth of experiential travel: Unique once-in-lifetime experiences such as Northern Lights tours in Norway, Sweden and Finland; Cherry Blossom tours in Japan & Korea; Australia-New Zealand

Growing Demand for Luxury Travel & Cruise Vacations: Europe; Morocco; Polar & Scandinavian cruises)

Favourite Destinations:

International: Europe’s Switzerland, Austria, France, Germany, Sweden, Norway, Finland; Australia-New Zealand; Japan-Korea, Indonesia, Mauritius, Singapore, Malaysia, Dubai-Abu Dhabi, Thailand, Vietnam

Emergence of fresh new destinations: Driven by no/easy visa regimes and connectivity, increased demand for CIS countries/destinations such as Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan and Kazakhstan

Domestic: Kashmir, Ladakh, Kerala, Andamans, Himachal Pradesh, North-East India, Lakshwadeep

Strong demand for Pilgrimage Tourism continues: CharDham, Kumbh Varanasi-Prayagraj-Ayodhya, Rameswaram, Amritsar, Ramayan trails in Sri Lanka

Mr. Romil Pant, Executive Vice President & Business Head – Holidays, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “The launch of our special flights from Ahmedabad is a smart strategy to leverage the strong and growing interest for Bhutan. In the absence of commercial operations from Gujarat to Bhutan, our pioneering direct flights will fill a crucial market gap – offering a seamless travel experience for Gujarati travellers with unique Bhutan itineraries. Cuisine forms a very critical factor for Gujarati travellers, we have hence stationed our Gujarati chefs in Bhutan to ensure preparation of authentic Gujarati cuisine including vegetarian/Jain options.

Ahmedabad represents a strategic gateway, giving the Company increased access via a hub & spoke model, to the powerful regional source markets of Gujarat. In addition to our special Bhutan direct flights, our enhanced portfolio encompasses Spiritual Tours and Regional Tours (Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and New Zealand)

We are very bullish on the powerful and strong growth market that Ahmedabad and Gujarat represent and expect a significant uptick from Gujarat in 2025.“

“We are delighted by the launch of Thomas Cook’s direct flights from Ahmedabad to Paro, making travel to Bhutan easier and more convenient for our friends in India. We’ve seen growing interest from Ahmedabad, and this new route provides the perfect opportunity for more travelers to discover Bhutan’s serene beauty, vibrant traditions, and timeless charm. It also deepens the cultural and personal ties between our two nations,” said Carissa Nimah, Chief Marketing Officer, Department of Tourism Bhutan.

About Thomas Cook (India) Limited: Set up in 1881, Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL) is the leading omnichannel travel company in the country offering a broad spectrum of services including Foreign Exchange, Corporate Travel, MICE, Leisure Travel, Value Added Services, and Visa Services. It operates leading B2C and B2B brands including Thomas Cook, SOTC, TCI, SITA, Asian Trails, Allied TPro, Australian Tours Management, Desert Adventures, Travel Circle International Limited (TCI 勝景), Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, Distant Frontiers, TC Tours, Digiphoto Entertainment Imaging (DEI), Go Vacation, Private Safaris East & South Africa.

As one of the largest travel service provider networks headquartered in the Asia-Pacific region, The Thomas Cook India Group spans 28 countries across 5 continents.

TCIL has been felicitated with the award for MICE Travel Agency (Outbound) at the Economic Times MICE & Wedding Tourism Awards 2024, ‘Masters of Risk – Travel & Hospitality’ at India Risk Management Awards 2024, MICE Tour Operator of the Year – Outbound at SATTE 2024, Best Tour Operator at India Travel Awards North 2023, MICE Travel Operator of the Year at the Economic Times Travel & Tourism Awards 2023, winner of the Corporate Citizen Award (Travel Tourism & Hospitality) at the Corporate Citizen Conclave & Award 2023, The Outbound Tour Operator of the Year 2022 & 2019 at the SATTE Awards, IAMAI India Digital Awards 2022, CNBC-TV18 & ICICI Lombard India Risk Management Award – Travel & Leisure Category 2022 & 2021, CIO100 Award for digital innovation 2022, ‘Innovation in Omni-experience’ Award at International Data Corporation’s (IDC) Industry Innovation Awards 2021, The Best Travel Agency – India at TTG Travel Awards 2019, The Best Outbound Tour Operator at the Times Travel Awards 2019 & 2018, Silver award for Asia’s Best Integrated Report (First Time) category at the Asia Sustainability Reporting Awards 2019-2021, Best Risk Management-Framework & Systems at the India Risk Management Awards 2019; The French Ambassador’s Award for Exemplary Achievements in Visa Issuance 5 years in a row and the Condé Nast Traveller – Readers’ Travel Awards from 2011 to 2019.

CRISIL has reaffirmed the rating on debt programs and bank facilities of TCIL – ‘CRISIL AA- / Positive’ on the long-term bank facilities of TCIL and ‘CRISIL A1+’ rating on the short-term bank facilities and short- term debt of the company.

For more information, please visit www.thomascook.in

Fairbridge Capital (Mauritius) Limited, a subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited, is the promoter of TCIL with a shareholding of 63.83% of its paid-up capital.

About Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited: Fairfax Financial Holdings Limited is a holding company which, through its subsidiaries, is primarily engaged in property and casualty insurance and reinsurance and the associated investment management. Founded in 1985 by the present Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. V. Prem Watsa, the company is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Its common shares are listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol FFH and in U.S. dollars under the symbol FFH.U.

About Subsidiaries of Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL):

Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited

Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of TCIL is a leading leisure hospitality company with 40+ resorts, hotels and retreats across hills, beaches, jungles, waterfront, adventure, heritage, pilgrimage and drive-to locations. Sterling provides a variety of offerings: Leisure holidays through FIT packages, Meetings & Conferences, Weddings, Reunions, Picnics and Holidays through Memberships.

SOTC Travel Limited

SOTC Travel Limited is a step-down subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings held through its Indian listed subsidiary, Thomas Cook (India) Limited (TCIL). SOTC Travel is a leading omnichannel travel and tourism company active across various travel segments including Leisure Travel, Incentive Travel and Business Travel. 

Established in 1949, SOTC is an Indian-grown brand with a legacy of 75 years. Since then, it has escorted millions of travellers across the globe to various destinations around the globe. The Company firmly believes that today, ‘No one understands the Indian Traveller better than SOTC’.

Travel Corporation (India) Limited

Travel Corporation (India) Limited (TCI) (operating brands Sita, TCI and Distant Frontiers), a wholly owned subsidiary of TCIL, is the leading Destination Management Company in India that offers tailor-made travel and related services to India, Nepal, Bhutan and Sri Lanka.

DEI Holdings Limited

Thomas Cook India Group holds 51% stake in DEI Holdings Limited (DEI), one of the world’s leading imaging solutions and services providers.

For more information, visit: 

Sterling Holiday Resorts Limited: 

SOTC Travel Limited: 

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