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Business Upturn
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Upturn
Thomas Cook India & SOTC deepen focus on spiritual tourism with curated pilgrimage circuits and aerial darshans
By Aditya Bhagchandani Published on August 7, 2025, 15:15 IST Thomas Cook (India) Ltd and its group company SOTC Travel have expanded their spiritual tourism portfolio, introducing a wide array of pilgrimage circuits across India and the subcontinent. This strategic expansion is aimed at tapping into the growing demand for curated spiritual experiences among all age groups — from traditional GenS travellers to millennials and Gen Z seekers. Branded under the theme 'India is a Pilgrimage', the tours are crafted to blend religious significance with convenience and local cultural experiences. Recognizing the challenges faced by spiritual travellers — including infrastructure, access, and time — the companies are introducing aerial darshans via helicopters, guided tours, VIP darshan access, and certified local experts at key religious sites. Key Offerings: A curated portfolio of 11 major circuits including Char Dham, Kailash Mansarovar, Kashi-Prayagraj-Ayodhya, Dwarka-Somnath, and Ramayan Yatras across India, Nepal, and Sri Lanka Special rituals, aartis, and personalized puja services with accompanying priests VIP/escorted access at high-traffic pilgrimage sites Jain and pure vegetarian meal plans aligned with spiritual needs Short getaways to Vaishno Devi, Shirdi, Amritsar, Mathura, Velankanni, and more Optional adventure-spiritual combinations like river rafting in Rishikesh and paragliding near Vaishno Devi Comprehensive travel assurance through their TravSure program, covering insurance and on-ground assistance Leadership Speaks: Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa – Thomas Cook (India) Ltd, stated: 'Spiritual tourism is now a year-round aspiration, not just seasonal. We're aiming to make these journeys accessible, immersive, and meaningful for every Indian — from seniors to young professionals.' S.D. Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel Ltd, added: 'Demand for destinations like Char Dham, Kailash Mansarovar, Ayodhya, and Rishikesh is growing across metro and tier 2–3 cities. Our aerial darshans and end-to-end packages are designed for ease and comfort.' This move comes as India's spiritual travel sector sees robust growth, driven by post-pandemic introspection and rising interest in wellness-oriented journeys. The initiative positions Thomas Cook India and SOTC as pioneers in merging tradition with convenience for modern pilgrims. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aditya Bhagchandani serves as the Senior Editor and Writer at Business Upturn, where he leads coverage across the Business, Finance, Corporate, and Stock Market segments. With a keen eye for detail and a commitment to journalistic integrity, he not only contributes insightful articles but also oversees editorial direction for the reporting team.
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Business Standard
06-07-2025
- Business Standard
Millennials, GenZs turn monsoon into travel season with value trips
Monsoon, traditionally considered an off-season for travelling, is witnessing an increased demand from GenZs and Millennials flocking to explore adventure and scenic beauty, leveraging the advantage of low pricing and fewer crowds, according to industry experts. "Being a traditionally low season for travel, Monsoon is the perfect time to embrace the great outdoors and experience travel at discounted rates with special offers from backwaters to wildlife safaris, biking trails, spiritual circuits to Ayurveda retreats," Thomas Cook (India) President and Country Head - Holidays, MICE, Visa, Rajeev Kale said in a statement. Monsoon holidays offer something for every traveller across segments of families, millennials, working professionals, groups of friends, couples and 'frolleagues', he said. According to Thomas Cook (India) data, monsoon holidays are gaining strong interest from young India's GenZ and Millennials, working professionals, couples, multigenerational families, a rising segment - 'frolleagues' (colleagues who double as friends). "The monsoon season is opening up exciting opportunities for travellers to experience India at its lush and vibrant best. We're also seeing a shift beyond metros, with growing demand from tier II and III cities. "Micro-breaks, mini-cations and weekend getaways are becoming the new norm, as travellers seek shorter, more frequent holidays," SOTC Travel president and country head - Holidays and Corporate Tours, S D Nandakumar said. According to PeekABoo, Cleartrip's exclusive travel trend tracker, monsoon travel bookings has surged by 46 per cent this year with tier I cities leading the charge, contributing a massive 78 per cent of all travellers. "Mostly 24-30-year-olds, escaping the grind with short 3-day getaways, or as they call it, a 70-hour monsoon break instead of a 70-hour work week," according to PeekABoo data. Even with soaring demand, hotel rates are holding steady (just 3 per cent higher), and airfares are up 13 per cent, making travel still accessible, it added. Most travellers prefer short hotel stays (2 nights), while flight bookings show longer getaways averaging 7 days, it stated. Also, spontaneity is in (last-minute bookings up 14 per cent), so is early planning (up 10 per cent), the data added. ixigo Group Co-CEO Rajnish Kumar also said the monsoon season is seeing an unexpected surge in demand this year. "Several factors, including unrest in destinations like Kashmir and broader geopolitical concerns, prompted a section of travellers to postpone their summer holiday plans. However, this pent-up demand is now spilling over into the monsoon, with flight bookings rising by 25-30 per cent YoY to emerging destinations like Port Blair, Tirupati, Udaipur, Coimbatore, and Dehradun," he said. Attractive monsoon sales by airlines and hotels are further fuelling this trend, offering value-driven deals and encouraging travellers to explore off-season getaways, he added.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Time of India
Monsoon travel surges among Gen Z, Millennials as off-season tourism gains momentum
Live Events (You can now subscribe to our (You can now subscribe to our Economic Times WhatsApp channel Monsoon, traditionally considered an off-season for travelling, is witnessing an increased demand from GenZs and Millennials flocking to explore adventure and scenic beauty, leveraging the advantage of low pricing and fewer crowds, according to industry experts."Being a traditionally low season for travel, Monsoon is the perfect time to embrace the great outdoors and experience travel at discounted rates with special offers from backwaters to wildlife safaris, biking trails, spiritual circuits to Ayurveda retreats," Thomas Cook (India) President and Country Head - Holidays, MICE, Visa, Rajeev Kale said in a holidays offer something for every traveller across segments of families, millennials, working professionals, groups of friends, couples and 'frolleagues', he to Thomas Cook (India) data, monsoon holidays are gaining strong interest from young India's GenZ and Millennials, working professionals, couples, multigenerational families, a rising segment - 'frolleagues' (colleagues who double as friends)."The monsoon season is opening up exciting opportunities for travellers to experience India at its lush and vibrant best. We're also seeing a shift beyond metros, with growing demand from tier II and III cities."Micro-breaks, mini-cations and weekend getaways are becoming the new norm, as travellers seek shorter, more frequent holidays," SOTC Travel president and country head - Holidays and Corporate Tours, S D Nandakumar said. Monsoon travel is picking up pace: Cleartrip's PeekABoo reveals a 46 per cent surge in bookingsAs per PeekABoo, Cleartrip's exclusive travel trend tracker, monsoon travel bookings has surged by 46 per cent this year with tier I cities leading the charge, contributing a massive 78 per cent of all travellers."Mostly 24-30-year-olds, escaping the grind with short 3-day getaways, or as they call it, a 70-hour monsoon break instead of a 70-hour work week," according to PeekABoo with soaring demand, hotel rates are holding steady (just 3 per cent higher), and airfares are up 13 per cent, making travel still accessible, it travellers prefer short hotel stays (2 nights), while flight bookings show longer getaways averaging 7 days, it spontaneity is in (last-minute bookings up 14 per cent), so is early planning (up 10 per cent), the data Group Co-CEO Rajnish Kumar also said the monsoon season is seeing an unexpected surge in demand this year."Several factors, including unrest in destinations like Kashmir and broader geopolitical concerns, prompted a section of travellers to postpone their summer holiday plans. However, this pent-up demand is now spilling over into the monsoon, with flight bookings rising by 25-30 per cent YoY to emerging destinations like Port Blair, Tirupati, Udaipur, Coimbatore, and Dehradun," he monsoon sales by airlines and hotels are further fuelling this trend, offering value-driven deals and encouraging travellers to explore off-season getaways, he added.
Hindustan Times
11-06-2025
- Hindustan Times
Have you heard of Satvik Travel? Here's why it's becoming a favourite choice among Indian travellers
It's that time of the year when we are either setting off for vacays or planning our holidays for the upcoming months. If Nature is your calling and you want to break away from the regular, touristy kind of sojourn, try satvik travel, a trend that has seen a rise lately. Satvik comes from the word sattva, which associates with qualities like calmness and balance. It's a travel trend that focuses on sustainable and eco-conscious experiences that also emphasise on spiritual and holistic well-being. It's all about prioritising ethical considerations, minimal environmental impact, and connection with Nature. From places of spiritual significance to those offering natural beauty and vegetarian-friendly food, satvik travel has been attracting people across ages. 'Satvik travel is seeing growing resonance with India's evolving travellers — particularly wellness-seekers, solo explorers and spiritually inclined millennials. In fact, satvik travel is becoming a defining pillar of India's wellness travel movement. We've witnessed a marked uptick in demand for journeys that offer inner stillness, clean satvik cuisine, and soul-nourishing experiences. Destinations like Rishikesh, Auroville, Sikkim and Kerala's tranquil backwaters are gaining popularity for their blend of mindfulness, Nature and simplicity. Interestingly, it's not just leisure travellers — corporates, too, are embracing satvik-led itineraries, curating offsites focused on wellness, reflection, and conscious living,' says Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook India. Some travel reports, too, showcase an increasing rise in the trend this year. 'In India, mindful travel has become a priority. From adopting sustainable choices to supporting local culture and businesses, these values are shaping how Indians travel. Our Travel & Sustainability Report 2025 highlights how 99% Indian travellers want to make more satvik travel choices this year,' says Santosh Kumar, Country Manager, India, Sri Lanka, Maldives and Indonesia, Living up to the philosophy of satvik travel, nearly '77% travellers seek authentic local vegetarian experiences and 68% want the money they spend to go back to the local community', says Santosh adding that nearly '55% people are willing to reduce energy consumption by turning off air conditioning and lights in their room' or opting for places that don't require air conditioning. Radhika Sharma, a Chartered Accountant from Mumbai, is a satvik travel aficionado. She says, 'I visit an eco resort by the Kundalika river in Kolad (Maharashtra) regularly, as it fulfils all that I desire in a satvik experience – from simple, home-cooked food made using locally grown veggies to sleeping in rooms with mud flooring and walls that naturally stay cool and don't require air conditioning. What adds to the experience is the jungle trek they organise. It helps you feel so connected to Nature and yourself.' Many young travellers, 'aged 16 to 30, opt for satvik packages to address personal wellness goals -- ranging from managing lifestyle ailments to improving fitness, emotional healing, reducing anxiety and stress,' says Nikhil Kapur, founder-director, Atmantan Wellness, Mulshi, Maharashtra. He explains what a satvik stay encompasses: 'Our guests get to be surrounded by Nature, supported by a plant-based cuisine that nourishes the body while calming the mind. This helps enhance emotional well-being and spiritual awareness' Other than the youth, couples opt for such packages too. 'Many couples also opt for satvik travel for their babymoons. We also get a lot of female solo travellers,' says Rajesh Srinivas, General Manager, Swastik Wellness Sanctuary, Pune, adding, 'We serve organic and plant-based food. We also have sustainable facilities such as a solar power plant, rainwater harvesting, no use of single-use plastic and organic waste recycling to live up to the philosophy of satvik travelling.' Satvik travel has become a conscious lifestyle choice. 'Today's travellers seek meaningful journeys that offer inner peace, cultural depth, and holistic wellness. In fact, a lot of youngsters opt for spiritual tourism at places such as Ayodhya, Varanasi`–Sarnath, Haridwar–Rishikesh, Mathura–Vrindavan, Shirdi–Nashik and the Char Dham Yatra. We also curate satvik travel itineraries that blend journeys with serene environments, sustainable choices and meals cooked without onion and garlic,' says SD Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel. Spiritual and cultural travel: It includes visiting religious sites, indulging in yoga retreats and meditation workshops or learning traditional crafts from local artisans. Eco-conscious travel: It prioritises sustainable tourism practices, such as choosing eco-lodges, supporting local communities, and consuming organic and locally grown vegetarian food. Ethical travel: Supporting small businesses and avoiding activities that exploit or harm Nature and local communities. Holistic well-being: Engage in activities that promote physical and mental health, such as hiking/trekking, yoga, spa treatments, or healthy eating.
Time of India
03-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
#WorldBicycleDay: Slow & immersive: Plan a pedal-powered adventure
Whether you're cruising past vineyard-draped valleys in Europe or navigating spice-scented streets in India, cycling opens up a deeper connection with a place. Driven by sustainable tourism and the desire for unique travel experiences, cycling tourism is growing in demand. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Here's how you can curate one for yourself. 'SLOW, IMMERSIVE AND SUSTAINABLE' Cycling holidays offer a unique and immersive way to experience a destination. Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, of a travel company says, 'We've seen a growing interest in cycling-based travel from both individuals and small groups seeking more active and eco-conscious itineraries.' Adds SD Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, of a travel company, 'Our data indicates that the average age of our customers has dropped by approx. 10 years, and the growth of this younger segment is not restricted to metros but emerges from tier 2-3 cities.' Top international destinations: AMSTERDAM: With over 500 km of dedicated cycle lanes, seamless bike rental systems, and canalside paths, Amsterdam offers a dreamlike urban cycling experience. KYOTO: Kyoto's flat terrain, respectful traffic, and compact layout make it a joy to explore by bicycle. Ride past bamboo groves in Arashiyama, ancient shrines in Gion, and riverside paths during the cherry blossom season. LOIRE VALLEY: The 'Loire à Vélo' route spans 900 km of gentle terrain along the Loire River, passing through fairy-tale castles, vineyards, and sleepy French villages. OTHER POPULAR TRAILS: Denmark's scenic landscapes, Belgium's historic towns, Switzerland's mountain circuits, and Austria's alpine trails. 'Spain's Camino de Santiago, South Korea's scenic riverside paths, and Singapore's urban cycling trails are gaining momentum among Indian cyclists looking for adventure abroad,' adds Rajeev Kale. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Top Indian destinations : Coorg's coffee plantations Munnar's rolling tea gardens Leh-Ladakh's dramatic mountain passes Goa's coastal routes Puducherry's beach and nature trails Spiti Valley in Himachal Pradesh Kaas Plateau in Maharashtra Mechuka Valley in Arunachal Pradesh Velhe-Panshet near Pune Majuli Island in Assam Valparai's hilly trails in Tamil Nadu Wayanad in Kerala Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh Tips to plan it right: Choose the right bike: For rugged terrains like Ladakh, opt for a sturdy mountain bike. For urban smoother trails or city rides, hybrids or touring bikes offer comfort and efficiency . Plan your route with some buffer time: Don't underestimate the distance or overestimate your stamina. Leave room for detours, downtime, and weather surprises. Pack smart, light: Focus on essentials — weather-appropriate clothing, a basic repair kit, hydration gear, and a reliable power bank . Adhere to local laws and etiquette: Knowing and following local cycling rules is non-negotiable. Understand hand signals, helmet requirements, and lane usage specific to each region. Look for accommodations that welcome cyclists: Look for bike-friendly stays with secure parking, washing areas, and flexible meal timings to match your riding schedule – Inputs by Hari Ganapathy, co-founder of an online travel company
