Thomas Cook (India) Limited has announced the opening of its new franchise outlet in South Bopal, Ahmedabad, aiming to leverage the high-growth travel market of the city and surrounding areas. The launch comes just in time to cater to the increased demand for travel during Gujarat’s peak holiday seasons like Diwali and summer.
South Bopal, located in the western part of Ahmedabad, is a preferred residential area with excellent connectivity to the airport, railways, metros, and prominent areas such as IT hubs and business parks. The new outlet brings the number of Thomas Cook locations in the city to four and across Gujarat to ten.
Focus on Personalized Services
The South Bopal outlet will serve a wide range of customers, including families, millennials, business professionals, and seniors. Thomas Cook aims to offer end-to-end travel services, such as international and domestic holiday packages, group tours, and cruises. To enhance customer experience, the outlet will also provide value-added services like travel insurance and assistance through an AI booking platform for real-time personalized vacation planning.
Travel Trends in Ahmedabad
Ahmedabad is known for its enthusiastic travelers who capitalize on not just peak seasons but also take advantage of long weekends for short trips. Thomas Cook has noted a strong demand for group tours, particularly those featuring Gujarati-speaking managers and pure vegetarian cuisine, which cater to the specific preferences of customers from the region.
Longer stays are becoming more common, with vacations ranging from 5-8 days for short trips to 10-15 days for extended travel. The trend of experiential travel is also on the rise, with unique experiences like Northern Lights tours in Finland, Cherry Blossom viewing in Japan, and whale watching in Sri Lanka gaining popularity. Additionally, new destinations like Azerbaijan, Uzbekistan, and Georgia are emerging as favored travel spots due to their easy visa processes and better connectivity.
Increasing Demand for Luxury Travel
There has been notable growth in luxury travel and cruise vacations among Gujarati travelers. Popular luxury travel destinations include Lakshadweep, Dubai, Singapore, and Egypt.
Pilgrimage Tourism and Top Destinations
Pilgrimage tourism remains strong, with destinations like Char Dham, Kashi, Ayodhya, and Rameswaram being highly sought after. Internationally, Japan, Vietnam, Switzerland, and Australia are some of the top destinations, while domestic preferences include Kashmir, Kerala, and the Andaman Islands.
Company Remarks
Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head of Holidays, MICE, and Visa at Thomas Cook (India) Limited, highlighted the importance of Ahmedabad as a significant source market. He emphasized that the South Bopal outlet’s central location would enhance the ability to provide easy access and seamless services to a diverse range of customers.
Thomas Cook is committed to offering exclusive group tours tailored for Gujarati travelers with departures from Gujarat and expert Gujarati-speaking tour managers.
