Category Archives: Agents

Cordelia Cruises recently started sailings to Sri Lanka from India for the first time ever, touching the ports of Hambantota, Trincomalee and Jaffna from Chennai. Present at the debut sailing were Sarbananda Sonowal, Minister of Ports, Shipping & Waterways. Jurgen Bailom, President & CEO of Waterways Leisure, Cordelia Cruises, says, “In the year 2023, we hope to host over 50,000 passengers for our Sri Lanka sailings alone between June 2023-September 2023.”

Thomas Cook (India) has unveiled a new campaign to capitalise on the significant demand shift towards customized holidays. The campaign positions the brand as India ka Holiday Specialist, with the Company’s long history of fulfilling holiday dreams for millions of customers over the years. The Company’s accelerated digital focus has resulted in building and strengthening its hybrid model – combining state of the art technology with human expertise and personal touch. This has resulted in a significant drop of approx. ten years in the average age of the Company’s holiday customers. With Young Indians willing to increase spends for that once in a lifetime experience – there is a noteworthy shift from a saving to spending mindset. Additionally, there is a growing sense of ‘YOLO – You Only Live Once’ amongst consumers, with an increased desire to strike off all their bucket-list experiences. This has resulted in a 40-50% increase in Thomas Cook’s customized holidays business compared to pre pandemic, with a noteworthy demand for unique, once in a lifetime experiences over exploring popular tourist locales and regular sightseeing tours. The strategic intent behind the campaign is to take a long term and leadership position in the customized holidays space by owning noteworthy differentiators such as the most experienced holiday experts (itinerary curators), who now serve customers at their doorstep as a personal holiday maker to help them create itineraries as per their preferences. The Company has also created a dynamic package building tool, wherein travellers can build their itinerary instantly across popular destinations on the website. Additionally, a 24 x 7 on-tour assistance is now being extended to all customers – experienced and empowered tour managers and experts (via call / WhatsApp) are available to offer guidance to …

The All-India Association of Authorized Money Changers & Money Transfer Agents has demanded the inclusion of foreign currency cash, wire transfers through banks, pre-paid forex cards and other international payments into the TCS exemption ambit offered to overseas transactions using debit and credit cards under the Liberalized Remittance Scheme (LRS).

A report by Economist Impact exploring the recovery of tourism in Asia-Pacific region finds that more than half of all travellers plan to spend either the same or more on their next holiday compared to what they would have spent pre-pandemic. About 64.1% of Indian respondents say they would travel more locally as would a majority of millennials (60.3%) and parents with young children.

The transportation and logistics arm of the Hayleys Group, Advantis announced a partnership with India’s cruise line, Cordelia Cruises to usher in a new wave of in-bound luxury tourists to Sri Lanka. Advantis Travel and Aviation will serve as the General Sales Agent, while Advantis Group subsidiary Clarion Shipping will serve as Port Agent for Cordelia Cruises in Sri Lanka. Cordelia Cruises aims to revolutionise the tourism market in the region by offering an extraordinary cruise experience that exudes style and luxury through its crown jewel – “The Empress”, an iconic vessel with 796 cabins in 5 distinct categories filled with state-of-the-art amenities, the ship is capable of accommodating 1,800 passengers. The luxury cruise line will embark on its inaugural sailing to the island, in June 2023. The collaboration marks a milestone in Sri Lanka’s efforts to revitalise inbound tourism and capitalise on the island’s significant untapped potential as an international hotspot for cruise tourism. Embarking on a cruise journey to Sri Lanka opens up a world of thrilling shore excursions for travellers, with Jaffna, Hambantota, and Trincomalee serving as bases. These exceptional locations offer an opportunity to embark on unforgettable adventures that showcase the very best of Sri Lanka’s rich heritage, breathtaking natural beauty, and vibrant cultural diversity. A significant boost to the Sri Lankan tourism industry is anticipated, attracting an estimated 80,000 tourists within the first four months alone. This surge is set to unlock significant commercial opportunities for the tourism value chain, drive economic growth and position Sri Lanka as a premier destination for discerning travellers, providing a timely impetus to the country’s travel and tourism industry. Cordelia Cruises President and CEO, Jurgen Bailom stated: “Sri Lanka …

Union Minister for Tourism, G Kishan Reddy said that Jammu & Kashmir expects to see 20 million tourist arrivals and that the government is mulling 100% FDI to create tourism infrastructure across the country with special focus on J&K. “In year 2022, 1.84 crore tourists visited J&K and this year, we expect 20 million tourist arrivals including foreign guests. Without private investment we cannot become a world tourist destination that is why we want investment globally and locally,” he said.      

According to Madhavan Menon, CMD, Thomas Cook (India), “We will see Indians travelling both short-haul and long-haul. I think we are witnessing the so-called saver becoming a spender. This stems from one fact of their confidence in the economy. This is not coming from anywhere. It is not just pandemic driven. It is also the fact that people are confident that the economy is growing, their jobs are secure, and they expect things will improve from here.”

Speaking about expanding overseas, Rikant Pitti, Co-Founder, EaseMyTrip.com says, “I never dreamed of expanding overseas. Conquering a global market is never easy. But we always followed our path of building patiently. We chose the right market, started building local partners. If you are planning to expand into a new market, there are a few things you need to take care of first, like cultural differences. You don’t want your customers to feel that you are alien to them. Being aware of their unique culture, language, and habits is essential for growth.”

The recent Agoda Travel Trend Survey concluded that respondents predominantly selected an annual spending range of USD 201-500  when considering travel budgets. The study polled participants from Asia (including India), Australia, and the United States.  Krishna Rathi, Country Director India at Agoda said, “As a platform that is passionate about getting the best deals for our customers, we wanted to look at travel options that fit well within the expected travel spends”. He also added, “Capitalizing on additional discounts in the Agoda app, or using money-saving features like ‘price freeze’ are great ways to make your money go further, and enable travelers to create and discover many different travel options”. Mumbai to Aurangabad (Domestic) A history buff, an adventurer, or a wanderer of roads less traveled – it’s about time you plan your next vacation to Aurangabad, a hidden gem located in Maharashtra. With a plethora of pocket-friendly flight options to choose from. You can pack in a five-day first-rate itinerary. Book your stay at the Amarpreet, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Nagar – AM Hotel Collection – boasting of a modern yet cozy and leisurely atmosphere. Taj of the Deccan – Bibi Ka Maqbara – a stellar sight of Mughal Architecture. Elevate the adventure with some time at the Daulatabad Fort – a medieval defensive citadel, atop a conical-shaped hill. You may also plan a day trip to Lonar Crater Lake (Rs 10,640), located in the Buldana district. A spectacular astronomical wonder, the lake was formed due to a meteorite collision and also holds pink water – truly unmissable. Delhi to Muscat (International) Muscat, Oman is the undisputed choice for you if you fancy short-haul flights and international vacays without burning a …

Commenting on the monthly domestic passenger traffic data for April 2023, ICRA states that numbers for April 2023 is estimated at 129 lakh, similar to that in March 2023, though 22% higher in comparison to 105 lakh in April 2022 and 17% higher than pre-Covid levels of 110 lakh in April 2019. It added that despite a healthy recovery in passenger traffic, the domestic aviation industry continues to face challenges on account of elevated ATF prices and depreciation of the INR vis-à-vis the US$ compared to the pre-Covid era, both of which have a major bearing on the airlines’ cost structure. While the ATF prices have witnessed a sequential decline over the past four months, they still remain at elevated levels as compared to the pre-Covid era. The airlines’ efforts to ensure fare hikes proportionate to their input cost increases will be key to expanding their profitability margins.