 "Thomas Cook eyes business growth through student tours")
Tour operator Thomas Cook is expanding its travel business and has launched a new segment - student tours.
"We see a fairly large opportunity from the student tour segment including from non metro cities,'' said Abraham Alapatt, head of marketing of Thomas Cook.
The company is present in India since 1881 and has a diversified travel and foreign exchange portfolio which caters to leisure and corporate travellers.
With a view to increase its brand awareness, Thomas Cook conducted nation wide travel quiz contest covering five lakh students. This reach has also allowed the company to engage with schools and grow its business.
"We are in discussion with schools and text book publishers to design itineraries along school curriculum. We recently conducted a student tour to Ranthambore national park and will be organising similar trips within India and abroad," Alapatt said.
"We even received a request from a school to arrange a tour to NASA or space centres in Europe,'' he added. Thomas Cook has also tied up with tourism boards of Switzerland, Singapore and Israel for this initiative.
Thomas Cook has been conducting university tours in the US for under graduate students aspiring to study abroad but has now revamped its strategy to focus on students from sixth to ninth standard.
"Instead of only focusing on family tours Singapore Tourism is looking at hosting student trips from India. Such tours lay emphasis on learning and experience. There are various itineraries including visits to water recycling centre, flight school or zoo,'' said Bridget Goh, director of Singapore Tourism Board.