Age Of Customisation
Travellers who wish to explore a destination at their pace and want
unique sightseeing experiences can opt for personalised tours
Rajeev Kale
President & Country
Head - Holidays,
MICE, Visa & Passport,
Thomas Cook India
I
t’s the age of customisation
– whether it’s clothes, pizza
toppings, or even your fitness
routine. No wonder this trend
is gradually redefining the travel
industry as well. Customers now
ask for exactly what they want and
the demand for customised tours
has seen a strong growth in the last
few years.
There are some recommended
itineraries according to the kind
of vacation the traveller desires.
However, it can also be fully
customised, taking into account
their time, budget, and interests.
According to data available with
Thomas Cook India, half of all
travellers opted for personalised
tours in 2017.
The new-age traveller demands
more experiences and wants
something unique or innovative
in their itinerary. Travellers
today are constantly evolving
and, thanks to social media, have
higher expectations and demands.
They look for experiences and
the traditional one-size-fits-all
approach just won’t work for them.
This customising process starts
by understanding the wants and
needs of the family, or group, and
filtering down the possibilities to a
plan that fits them.
Thomas Cook India has
witnessed a steady uptake in
customised, bespoke travel. This
tends to attract travellers who
either prefer to be with their own
small private group, or whose
schedules don’t line up with the
group departures. Expert local
guides, private airport transfers,
luxurious accommodations, and
enriching sightseeing experiences
are all included; often with access
to places not open to the public.
Whilst many travellers
equate tailor-made tours with
staying in the most lavish of
accommodations, it is often the
less expensive features that make
these trips special for someone
who wants to truly get a feel of
the destination. Authenticity and
unique experiences are the new
luxuries.
One of the main benefits that
custom tours offer is that they open
up a range of opportunities that
group tours don’t offer. At Thomas
Cook India, we have recommended
a range of options from ice hotels in
Canada to cave dwellings in Turkey
for travellers who are looking for
something beyond the ordinary.
Other experiences include cherry
blossom tours in Japan, wildlife
reserves and safaris in Kenya,
kayaking in the Abu Dhabi
mangroves, hologram concerts in
Korea, and pub crawls in Lan Kwai
Indian travellers’ top
destinations for a
customised holiday
International: Bali,
Singapore, Hong Kong, Thailand,
Japan, and Korea in Asia; France,
Italy, Switzerland, and Austria in
Europe; Kenya in Africa; and Dubai
and Abu Dhabi in the Middle East
Domestic: Kerala, the north-
east, Andamans, Himachal
Pradesh, Goa, Rajasthan, Gujarat,
Kashmir.
Fong, Hong Kong. The challenge
here is to make sure no client ends
up with experiences that look good
on paper but are not fun. We have
observed that involving clients
right from the planning stage also
makes them feel comfortable and
leads to faster decision-making.
Customised tour packages are
ideal for all kinds of travellers,
particularly those who wish to
explore a destination at their pace
and according to their interests –
for instance, families travelling with
children. The advantage in this case
is that it gives you a chance to tailor
the itinerary according to your
kids’ needs and preferences, and
not disrupt their routine. Custom
tours are also an excellent option
for multi-generation families with
diverse interests and styles that
need to be catered to while on
holiday.
It’s the traveller today who is
calling the shots. This is indeed the
future of travel.
[email protected]
www.outlookmoney.com April 2018 Outlook Money
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