Thomas Cook (India) Limited , a leading omnichannel travel services company, has announced the launch of specially curated holiday packages for the upcoming festive season. The company, along with its group entity SOTC Travel, is tapping into the growing trend of Indians choosing to travel and celebrate festivals together as multi-generational family units and friend groups.

Festive Tour Offerings

The new tour packages feature special group departures catering to various regional markets:

• Durga Puja departures from Kolkata
• Dussehra departures from Karnataka
• Special tours from Gujarat and Maharashtra
• Pan-India Diwali departures

Changing Travel Trends

According to Thomas Cook India's Holiday Report 2025, there's a significant shift in consumer behavior:

• 85% of Indians are increasing their travel frequency and budgets
• Travelers are extending their stays from traditional 3-day breaks to 6-12 days during festivals
• Multi-generational families are combining school vacations like Dussehra, Durga Puja, and Diwali for longer trips

Popular Destinations

The company has identified several favorite destinations for festive travelers:

Domestic and Indian Subcontinent

• Andaman
• Kerala
• Kashmir
• Himachal Pradesh
• Rajasthan
• Goa
• Karnataka
• North East
• Sri Lanka
• Bhutan
• Nepal

International

• Thailand
• Singapore with Bintan
• Malaysia
• Vietnam
• Oman
• Australia-New Zealand
• European countries (Switzerland, France, Finland, Germany, Spain, Austria)
• Middle East (Dubai, Abu Dhabi)
• Island destinations (Maldives, Mauritius)

Special Offers and Packages

To attract customers, Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel are offering:

• Discounts of up to Rs. 10,000 per transaction on select holidays via HDFC credit cards
• Regional tour packages such as Adhbhut Asia, Alokik Asia, Ashadharon Vietnam, and Duronto Dubai
• Tours accompanied by regional tour managers
• On-tour puja arrangements and curated vegetarian meals on select tours

Executive Insights

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head, Holidays, MICE, Visa at Thomas Cook India, commented on the trend: "Travel has become non-negotiable and festive tourism serves as a powerful cultural driver. We are witnessing a strong and exciting trend—Indians are no longer staying at home but increasingly choosing to celebrate festivals while travelling."

S.D. Nandakumar, President & Country Head - Holidays and Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel Limited, added: "India's festive calendar is fast emerging as a powerful travel driver. Families and friends are increasingly using these breaks to create multiple holidays rather than a single long annual holiday."

The companies have designed their festive portfolio to blend celebration with exploration, curating domestic and international tours that allow Indians to experience their festivals in unique settings while creating deeper connections and lasting memories.

As the travel industry continues to evolve, Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel are positioning themselves to meet the changing preferences of Indian travelers, especially during the festive seasons that hold significant cultural importance across the country.

Thomas Cook (India) Limited , a leading omnichannel forex services company, has announced a groundbreaking partnership with Mastercard to enable contactless cross-border payments through Google Pay for its entire suite of forex cards. This innovative collaboration aims to transform the landscape of international transactions for Indian travelers.

Seamless Integration for Global Payments

The partnership introduces a pioneering initiative that allows Indian travelers to make secure overseas payments using their mobile devices across various categories, including accommodation, transport, dining, and shopping. This integration eliminates the need to carry physical cards, significantly reducing the stress associated with card loss, theft, replacement hassles, or the need for emergency cash.

Enhanced Security and Widespread Acceptance

The new contactless Tap-and-Pay and online features are available across Thomas Cook's range of prepaid forex cards, including:

• Borderless Travel
• One Currency
• Study Buddy
• EnterpriseFX

This integration offers an additional layer of security through tokenization and provides extensive access to more than 270 million Mastercard merchant locations worldwide. Customers can easily add their Thomas Cook forex cards to Google Pay for a simple, swift, and secure payment experience.

Key Benefits for Travelers

Executive Insights

Mr. Deepesh Varma, Executive Vice President - Foreign Exchange at Thomas Cook (India) Limited, expressed enthusiasm about the new offering: "Today's Indian traveller demands simple, real-time and secure digital solutions for their overseas payments. We are delighted to lead the charge in embracing digital innovation via the launch of our contactless payment solutions in collaboration with Google Pay and Mastercard."

Mr. Ravi Datla, Senior Vice President, Products and Solutions, South Asia at Mastercard, added: "Mastercard is at the forefront of transforming the travel experience for its cardholders through innovative and secure payment solutions. The seamless integration of Thomas Cook's forex prepaid cards with Google Pay underscores our commitment to supporting contactless, tokenized, and globally accessible payment solutions."

A Step Towards Digital Innovation

This collaboration combines Thomas Cook's domain expertise in foreign exchange, Google Pay's technological prowess, and Mastercard's global payment network. It creates a powerful, borderless payment ecosystem that aligns perfectly with the needs of India's new-age travelers seeking frictionless experiences across the world.

The initiative underscores Thomas Cook's commitment to driving digital adoption, strengthening security, and delivering seamless access, further cementing its leadership in India's cross-border payments space. As international travel continues to rebound, this innovative solution is set to provide Indian travelers with greater confidence, convenience, and peace of mind in their global adventures.