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UAE key market for tour operator

DUBAI — Indian tour operator SOTC on April 21 unveiled its special summer packages to more than 250 authorised travel agents during a roadshow in Dubai.

Speaking to Khaleej Times, Anand Kandadai Narasimhan, Vice-President -International Markets of SOTC, said the UAE was a very significant market for the company as it accounted for 40 per cent of its annual volume.

“Currently, the UAE accounts for 40 per cent of our international market demand, only slightly lower than the 45 per cent market share of the US,” disclosed Narasimhan.

The SOTC executive attributes this to the UAE’s expanding economy and diverse clientele, which comprises both local and expatriate travellers. “This year, we are expecting the demand from this market to grow by 43 per cent, not only from the Indian expatriate population, but also from the Western expatriate community, which is growing at around 8 per cent annually,” he said.

Thanks to the country’s huge potential, SOTC has hiked its marketing and promotional expenses by 67 per cent and its brochure distribution by a whopping 200 per cent compared to last year, Narasimhan disclosed.

“We are banking on the expertise and knowledge of our trade partners as they know the local market and our products, and are able to promote us effectively in this country,” he added.

Narasimhan said the road show in Dubai also marked the launch of their official web site, www.sotctours.com, where travel agents can make online bookings and browse the range of products and services they offer.

SOTC is a part of the Kuoni Travel India and has International Travel Services (ITS) of the Galadari Travel Group as its general sales agent (GSA) in Dubai . It offers escorted tours, individual holiday plans, luxury group and independent vacations, as well as theme vacations. It offers a wide range of European tours with prices ranging from a basic nine-day experience at $1,299 (Dh4,750) per person, to a 17-day stay at $2,399 (Dh8,750) per person, which also includes extensive sightseeing in Europe.

The company also has special packages to Far East countries like Singapore , Malaysia , Hong Kong, Thailand as well as exotic destinations like China, Australia, New Zealand, Egypt, and Turkey.

• UAE