EVENT : THOMAS COOK INDIAN RAMPS UP ITS RETAIL EXPANSION STRATEGY OPENS OUTLET IN DOMBIVLI TO TAP INTO THE RAPIDLY GROWING MARKET OF MUMBAI METROPOLITAN REGION

• Customers from Mumbai/Maharashtra are now displaying year-round appetite for travel, including peak seasons of summer vacations, festive period and winter/year end
• Suburban markets of Mumbai Metropolitan Region like Dombivli and Kalyan are emerging as key source markets
• Key growth drivers: group tours, experiential travel; increased demand for premium programs, luxury cruises, customised holidays
• Top destinations: Europe’s Switzerland, France, Germany, Austria; Australia-New Zealand, Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Abu-Dhabi; emerging destinations: Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan

TTT NEWS  NETWORK

MUMBAI,  10 NOVEMBER 2024:

Thomas Cook (India) Limited, India’s leading omnichannel services company, has inaugurated its new franchise outlet in Dombivli (Thane district), to leverage the high-growth market of the city and its surrounding areas. The new outlet aims to serve the significant and growing demand for year round travel.

In its strategy to increase access and convenience, Thomas Cook’s new Dombivli outlet will benefit a range of customers, from families, couples, and Young India’s millennials-GenZ, GenS (seniors) and also business professionals.

The outlet will offer end-to-end travel services: International & Domestic Holidays (Group Tours, Personalised holidays, Cruises, etc.), Value Added Services like Travel Insurance, etc. Additionally, Thomas Cook’s AI booking platform assists customers in planning their personalized vacations in real-time by checking availability and making reservations in a matter of minutes.

Travel Trends from Dombivli and Maharashtra

• Maharashtra’s customers are displaying strong appetite for year-round travel: in addition to the peak vacation periods, customers from the State are maximising on public/ festive holidays and weekends for multiple mini-cations
• Longer stays: Short vacations now extend to 5-8 days, while longer trips span 10-15 days, reflecting a shift towards more immersive experiences
• Marathi Special Group Tours driving demand: exclusive group tours featuring co-travellers from Maharashtra, led by a Marathi-speaking tour manager, and offering select Maharashtrian cuisine remain highly popular
• Maharashtra’s Millennials and Gen Z Fuel Experiential Travel: Unique experiences such as chasing the  Northern Lights on a husky safari in Norway, hiking Autumn Alpine trails in Switzerland to thermal bathhouses in South Korea while experiencing the vibrant K-wave phenomenon from K-Pop, K-drama to K-beauty
• Growing Demand for Luxury Travel & Cruise Vacations: Luxury travel and cruise holidays are becoming increasingly popular. Top destinations include Switzerland, France, Spain, Portugal, Australia, New-Zealand, Thailand, Al-Ula and Scandinavia
• Emergence of fresh new destinations: Georgia, Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Oman and Morocco
• Visa-free, easy-visa destinations: Thailand, Malaysia, Sri Lanka; eVisa and easy visa: Dubai-Abu Dhabi, Vietnam, Indonesia are in high demand
• Top destinations:
  • International: Switzerland, France, Austria, Spain-Portugal, Morocco, Australia-New Zealand, South Korea, Japan, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Türkiye
  • Domestic: Kashmir, Leh-Ladakh, Himachal, Rajasthan, Kerala, AndamanIslands, North-East
• Strong demand for Pilgrimage Tourism continues: Char Dham, Kashi, Ayodhya, Rameswaram, Amritsar, Varanasi and  Prayagraj

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited said, “Thane district (Mumbai Metropolitan Region) is an important source market for us, and we are witnessing a significant demand from Dombivli and Kalyan. Hence, we are delighted to announce the opening of our Gold Circle Partner franchise outlet in Dombivli. Strategically chosen for its central location, this new outlet will enhance our ability to serve the growing and diverse needs of customers in the region. Our strong omnichannel ‘phygital’ strategy seamlessly integrates digital and physical experiences to offer greater choice and convenience. With this new outlet, customers can now walk in and co-curate their travel itineraries with our holiday experts at Dombivli. On behalf of my Team, I extend a warm welcome to our customers from Dombivli. My Team and I look forward to curating memorable holidays for each of our customers – both within India and international.”