Thomas Cook India & SOTC Travel announce

Mumbai, Jun 26: With the decline in the second COVID-19 wave and acceleration of vaccine drives, Indians are displaying increasing positive travel sentiment. However, concerns on health/hygiene and constant changes in protocols have resulted in understandable uncertainly. To provide guidance and build confidence that it is safe to travel again, Thomas Cook India & SOTC Travel Ltd. have announced a two-pronged strategy – TravShield and Holiday First and Pay When You Returnto cover every aspect of physical and financial safety. TravShield, a comprehensive safe travel commitment is designed with meticulous health and safety protocols to safe guard customers across Holidays, MICE and Business Travelandencompasses and enhances the companies’ existing AssuredInsured SecuredTravel Program.
To better understand consumer behaviours and travel needs, Thomas Cook India and SOTC surveyed over 4000 customers in June 2021. The data analysis has revealed strong pent up demand/travel desire along with key pain points/needs while travelling in the COVID era – a significant 69% respondents indicated keen interest to travel in 2021 post ease in restrictions – with 18% ready to travel immediately post unlock and 51% within 3-6 months, approximately 81% respondents reiterated their need for refundable/zero cancellation products, 52% selected complete re-sanitation of rooms as a key requirement, fully vaccinated hotel staff and drivers was a need highlighted by 48% and 34% respondents, respectively.
To allay customer doubts and instill confidence, TravShield was hence conceptualised by Thomas Cook India and SOTC to cover every aspect of physical safety as well as mental and financial security. The comprehensive and meticulous health & safety Assured Program, in partnership with Apollo Clinics, is inbuilt into TravShield.
Mr. Madhavan Menon, Managing Director, Thomas Cook (India) Limitedsaid, “At Thomas Cook and SOTC, we deeply value our customers safety and go to great lengths to ensure that our travel services meet global safety standards. In 2020, we launched the Thomas Cook & SOTC Assured Program in association with Apollo Clinics, which became the accepted standard for safe travel in India.