In Brief

Viking Travels To Foray Into Tour Operating

Viking Travels Pvt Ltd, a division of the Yash Birla Group of Companies has decided to expand its services further by launching its new leisure division in the coming months. As a launch strategy, the 25 year old ticketing travel agency launched by the late Sunanda Ashok Birla, aims to first promote the product amongst its already establish client base. The company has long term plans in place to be implemented in the coming months on a steady basis.

Highlighting the Viking plans, Jyot Jhaveri, head-leisure, Viking Travel Pvt Ltd said, “The company is planning to take one step at a time. Initially we would operate amongst our strong client base, which has accumulated through the years on basis of our service and performance. We now would like to take the company forward through new ventures and initiatives. I would not like to divulge to much about the plans but would only say that we are working out long term strategies especially for the FIT segment.”

Special customised packages designed for its clients is what the company aims to pursue. They do not intend to launch their product immediately in the general market, rather they prefer to work with their existing clients, establishing themselves further and then venturing all out in the market. Advertising, marketing campaigns etc would all be part of the future plans. Jhaveri further added that, “Our decision to launch the new leisure division was also a fall-out of the demand which we received from our existing customers. Since we were providing them with complete ticketing facilities, they requested us to extend our services further to other areas of tourism and travel operations.”

Citizen World Travels Plans To Launch Mumbai City Tour

In an effort to enhance Mumbai's image as a potent tourist destination, Citizen World Travels plans to launch Mumbai City Tours. Reveals Iqbal Mulla, chairman, Citizen World Travels P Ltd, "With this new concept, we plan to introduce seat-in-coach sightseeing tours of Mumbai by mid-August or latest by the first week of September. The idea came about after having received favourable reviews from tour operators, hoteliers and individual travellers. At the moment, we are in talks with

hoteliers to create the necessary awareness about these tours with their international and domestic guests."

Gauging the current situation, Mumbai already has the Mumbai Darshan buses that provide a city tour. So, what differentiates the two packages on offer? Asserts Mulla, "We would be providing government of India recognised tour guides who would be proficient in English as well as other languages such as Russian, French, Spanish interpreter's would also be available on request. Besides, the Mumbai Darshan buses are for everyone, whereas, our prime target would be international and domestic tourist coming into the city. Every passengers would have to pay a small amount of Rs 500-600 per seat, which would be exclusive of entrance fees to the monuments. By incorporating this payment system, we want to tap the upper segment thereby providing quality and not focusing on quantity."