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The outward-bound rush
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Kochi is witnessing a rise in out-bound tours, helped by a stronger rupee, finds TANYA ABRAHAM.
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A CORRELATION between Liberalisation and Holiday destinations? Too far-fetched, you think? Then think again!
While one refers to economic policies the other triggers thoughts of sunny beaches, swaying palms and exotic foods. But, here is an interdependence that is proving to be directly proportional to each other.
With the strengthening of the Indian economy, today, the average Indian is in position to savour better holiday destinations, especially the opportunity to step out into the world of international travel. Experts in the travel field are of the opinion that an average Malayali is now able to traverse the globe in search of experience, exposure and education, more easily than before, owing it to a stronger Indian economy.
"With new policies and the currency strengthening, one is in a far better position to bargain for more," says Ross Masood, Chairman of the Travel Agents Association of India (Kerala Chapter) and Director of The Great India Tour Company. "With the market opening up, and the Indian consumer having a better purchasing power, the demand for foreign travel has risen, almost by 60 to 70 per cent as compared to the last couple of years, so much so that, tour operators abroad are aware that the Indian traveller is now in a position to visit their countries. We witnessed this at the last International Tourism Bourse, Berlin, where there was an immense demand for Indian travellers, something we had not seen earlier. Ten years ago, the situation was such that few foreign tour operators, at an International fair, paid attention to Indian travel agents."
With a flush of foreign exchange into the country, better exchange rates and the limit of foreign currency for travel being raised to $10,000, the scenario has shifted from an `exclusive- wealth' oriented holiday to one perceived as a possibility, even for the middle income groups of society.
Payments are made directly to foreign tour operators in either Dollars or Euros, and the strengthening of the Rupee, has proved good for the Indian traveller.
Explaining the rise in the number of travellers from Kerala this year, Ross Masood says, "Our Company had sent 250 customers to Dubai alone for the Dubai shopping festival this year". More over, the situation is such that tourism permits reasonable (package) fares, for example, Rs.15,000 for Dubai, while regular travel would be based on a demand and supply situation, and tickets costs would range from Rs.25,000-30,000."
Pearl Prakash, Vice President, Choice Tours and Travels, who deals in Thomas Cook packages to U.S.A, South East Asia, Australia and Europe, explains, "2004 has been a boom year with double the bookings of last year, which began as early as January, and most of the tours are all sold out. We find parents travelling with children in order to educate them; others take a trip whilst visiting their children abroad. In fact we now see travellers choosing their own packages, something which was a rarity a few years ago."
With the situation changing drastically, and at a pace difficult to envisage previously, it is evident that travel is a priority for the average individual. It is believed, taking into account the budget constraints and the purchasing power, numerous packages to various destinations are offered
to suit various pay pockets. Considering the trend and demand situation, Unni Menon, Manager, Travel Corporation of India, Kochi, is of the opinion that the number one destination remains South- East Asia, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Dubai. The reason he largely attributes to being, "cheaper destinations, while tours to Europe and the U.S.A. often require advance booking and the obvious delay in obtaining a visa." In addition to attributing holiday packages and tours to out bound travel, there rests on the other hand, a huge number of `incentive travels'. Travel, offered by companies to their dealers or employees, largely as a result of sales targets achieved, which find families as a whole exploring foreign destinations. "Dealers are offered packages according to the number of points achieved on sales, where smaller schemes include South East Asian destinations, while the larger and long term schemes involve more exotic places like Cyprus, Greece and Egypt," says N. Hariharan, Manager Cox and Kings, Kochi. "Initially, we had specifically home appliance companies offering packages to their dealers. Today the scenario has changed considerably where companies ranging from paint, cement, electric, even insurance companies are choosing incentives."
Thus, with the travel industry booming, those in the industry believe that the new policies have paved way to a completely new dimension for travel, quite unimaginable earlier. So much so that, they are of the opinion, it would not be surprising that Kochi should eventually emerge as a hub for out bound travel, hopefully even a cruise terminal!
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Metro Plus
Bangalore
Chennai
Coimbatore
Delhi
Hyderabad
Kochi
Madurai
Thiruvananthapuram
Vijayawada
Visakhapatnam
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