Thomas Cook India and SOTC Meet Rising Demand with New Autumn Holidays for Nature Lovers

Thursday, October 10, 2024

Thomas Cook (India) Limited, a top omnichannel travel services company, along with its Group Company, SOTC Travel, has unveiled an exciting selection of Autumn Holidays designed to meet the rising demand among Indian travelers for nature-based and outdoor experiences. By tapping into the popularity of low/off-season travel, highlighted by the Companies’ data, Thomas Cook & SOTC’s Autumn Holidays not only showcase stunning fall landscapes but also offer benefits like appealing off-season pricing and fewer crowds.

The shift toward nature and outdoor activities, accelerated by the pandemic, has positioned autumn as a favorable holiday season for Indian travelers. Thomas Cook & SOTC Travel’s new autumn holiday collection capitalizes on this trend by presenting magical trips amid the season’s vibrant gold, orange, and red foliage.

Set against this beautiful autumn backdrop, the Companies’ Autumn Holidays feature engaging experiences for everyone, from multi-generational families and couples to groups of friends, as well as Gen S, millennials, and Gen Z travelers. In addition to escorted group tours, Thomas Cook & SOTC offer customized itineraries with activities like hiking and e-biking along Alpine trails in Switzerland, Turkey, Georgia, Japan, and South Korea. Unique experiences include stargazing while glamping in eco-friendly pods or a cozy log cabin in Lapland, as well as adrenaline-pumping adventures such as white-water rafting, wakeboarding, horseback riding, and Segway tours. For culinary enthusiasts, there are gourmet walks, wild truffle foraging, and vineyard tours with accommodations ranging from chateaux and palaces to villas in France, Spain, Portugal, Georgia, and Italy. Wellness experiences include Finland’s famous saunas, South Korea’s jjimjilbang bathhouses, Japan’s onsens, and mud baths in Azerbaijan.

Closer to home, India’s autumn offerings include nature treks among the vibrant chinars of Kashmir, scenic walks through Himachal and Uttarakhand, visits to the lush tea and coffee plantations of Darjeeling and Wayanad, white-water rafting in Coorg and Rishikesh, and jungle safaris in Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and more.

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said, “With changing consumer behaviour patterns, our data reflects growing appetite for travel during non-traditional peaks. And Autumn has been emerging as an attractive option, offering spectacular vistas with leaves changing to orange, rust and burgundy. This hence formed the genesis of the launch of our Autumn Holidays. With cooler climes, less crowded locales and off-season pricing, our aim is to fuel Indian demand and extend the traditional peak summer season!

Autumn is one of the best seasons to explore India, be it the Himalayan regions or hillscapes of the South; indulging in spa-wellness or setting off on an exciting safari. Europe, Japan – South Korea, Turkey, USA-Canada are top outbound favourites; with the short hauls like Azerbaijan, Georgia, Uzbekistan, and Kazakhstan’s emerging due to easy access and visas.”

S.D. Nandakumar – President and Country Head – Holidays and Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel Limited, said, “With a legacy of 75 years of being an Indian-entrepreneurial brand, SOTC believes that ‘no one understands the Indian traveller better than SOTC’. Our intent was to build on the emerging demand for outdoor experiences and we have crafted engaging and memorable Autumnal getaways to catalyse this growing trend. In addition to group tours, our holiday experts co-curate exceptional Autumn itineraries, based on each customer’s unique preferences.

What is particularly interesting is the growing interest we’re seeing from India’s Tier 2 and 3 markets, highlighting a broader shift towards outdoor and seasonal travel across the country.”

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