Mumbai, January 19, 2021: Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., India’s leading integrated travel services company has inaugurated a new Gold Circle Partner franchise outlet in Gandhinagar, Gujarat. This expansion augments Thomas Cook India’s distribution and reaches in Gujarat to 10 consumer access centers: 6 owned branches and 4 Gold Circle Partner (franchise) outlets across Ahmedabad, Baroda, Rajkot, Surat, Jamnagar, and Gandhinagar.
Travellers today are seeking the guidance and reassurance of holiday experts to navigate through the complexities and changes in travel and health protocols/documentation. Thomas Cook India’s recent Second Holiday Readiness Report (December 2020) reiterates the same, with a significant 71% respondents stating that they require guidance of a holiday expert and preferred to visit an outlet/Virtual Store/video chat to plan their holidays. In addition, a sizeable 84% respondents stated their strong preference for reputed tour companies and travel brands. Hence to support its customers in the high potential Gujarat market, Thomas Cook India has set up a new Gold Circle Partner franchise outlet at Gandhinagar.
With lockdown fatigue and strong pent-up demand, coupled with positive sentiment due to announcements on the vaccine, Gujarat’s consumers are displaying strong demand for domestic travel – with destinations like Goa, Andamans, Himachal Pradesh, Kerala seeing high uptake. International destinations such as Maldives, Dubai, Egypt, and Turkey are also witnessing encouraging interest.
Thomas Cook India’s data reveals that its Gujarati consumers spend an average of Rs. 1.5 lakhs per person for an international vacation, and an average of Rs. 25,000-50,000 per person for a domestic holiday. Key segments driving growth from Gujarat include families, couples, and groups of friends/colleagues.
Thomas Cook’s Gold Circle Partner outlet in Gandhinagar offers consumers end-to-end travel solutions with a bouquet of travel and travel related financial services, including: International & Domestic Holidays (Group Tours, Personalised holidays, Cruises, etc.), Value Added Services like Travel Insurance; Visa Services, etc. To build consumer confidence in travel, Thomas Cook India has launched its Assured Safe Travel Program in partnership with Apollo Clinics and end-to-end COVID-negative certification services.
Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. said, “Gujarat has always been a strong source market for us at Thomas Cook India. We are delighted to extend our services to our growing customer base in Gujarat with the launch of our new Gold Circle Partner franchise outlet in Gandhinagar. Located at Kudasan, our presence in Gandhinagar helps us to cater not only to the outskirts of Ahmedabad, but also increase our reach to the northern Gujarat belt – including Mehsana, Kadi, and Kalol with its significant NRI base. Residents of Gandhinagar and its peripheral area/towns will now benefit by getting all their travel needs fulfilled by our Gandhinagar outlet.”
To ensure the health and safety of customers, Thomas Cook India has put together a holistic three-pronged customer confidence-building program in the form of the Assured-Insured-Secured Program that covers every aspect of physical safety as well as mental and financial security to give the customer complete peace of mind. The company has launched several meaningful initiatives: a Doctor on Call 24×7 service in partnership with Apollo Clinics; India’s first Safe Holiday Helpline, a free service offering expert guidance & assistance for safe holiday planning, visa assistance, country specific updates, on-ground health, and safety measures, health certification, etc. and seamless COVID-negative certification services via a tie-up with ICMR accredited labs.
Gold Circle Partners Mr. Hemant Desai and Mr. Rahul Desai with their knowledge of the travel industry and extensive network will assist Thomas Cook India to further strengthen its presence in this growing market.
