Focus on retail customers, cut package costs.
Impacted by the downturn in the global economy that has taken the sheen off their business, travel houses in the region are coming up with innovative ideas.
Chandigarh-based travel counsellor Sonit Soni said recession had hit outbound tourism business by at least 30 per cent. In order to cope with this, most of the travel planners have reduced package tour costs by 30 per cent.
Speaking to Business Standard, Gurinder Bawa, business head, International Travel House Limited, said issues like affordability and winning confidence of customers had become the main focus in these testing times. “The recession has impacted our business by at least 30 per cent, as corporates who were our major clients have been been severely hit by the downturn,” he said.
The company was focusing more on individual customers and promotional events like roadshows to attract retail customers. Towards this, it has organised 4-5 roadshows.
Bawa revealed that the package tour prices have been reduced by 30 per cent to encourage customers to plan their foreign jaunts. Also, special focus is being laid on senior citizens who are now being labelled as potential business for the company.
The travel house is also targeting business from education exchange programmes as many students from the region are keen to pursue higher studies in overseas universities.
Vineet Sharma from Sheetal Travel said the company was now giving more focus on retail customers instead of corporate clients and had come out with different family packages.
Other travel houses too have introduced tailor-made packages for inbound tourists for destinations including Chandigarh, Punjab and Haryana.
