Spencers Travel unveils outbound tours division

Nina Varghese

CHENNAI, Nov. 1

YOU have had the bread and the soda, now you can have a Spencer's Holiday too.

The newly incorporated Spencers Travel Services Ltd, until recently a division of Spencer and Co Ltd, has launched a number of new travel products to complement its core General Sales Agency business. The company was incorporated so that there could be more focus on the travel business.

Mr T.S. Rajakrishnan, Vice-President, Spencers Travel Services Ltd, said the company has launched an outbound tours division branded ``Spencer's Holidays'' and tied up with ground operators in Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Thailand for the same. It will also be tying up with tour operators in Europe, Australia and Hong Kong by the month-end.

When asked why the company was getting into outbound tours at a time when the market for these was dull, Mr Rajakrishnan said the company would, for starters, be looking at the Far East destinations, which are ideal for Indian travellers. Most of the popular destinations in the Far East have also suffered mass cancellations and were offering 30 to 40 per cent discounts on rack (room) rates. He said a hot destination like Lankawi in Malaysia, which used to hold more than 100 per cent reservations during this season, is also offering hefty discounts.

The added attraction in most of the destinations for Indians is that the duty-free shops are now selling goods at low prices. This would be of great interest to the shopping-driven Indian tourist.

Spencer's is the sole representative for the Formula One Grand Prix at the Sepang International Circuit in Malaysia. Mr Rajakrishnan said last year, a large number of racing enthusiasts from South India had gone to Malaysia for the races.

The company will take care of land arrangements, hotel accommodation and sightseeing, if required. This would be promoted through the motor sports clubs in India and at select outlets of FoodWorld and Music World, he said.

The company is also the representative of the P&O Princess Cruises in Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. Mr Rajakrishnan said these cruises were at the premium end of the leisure segment and were attracting a number of Indian customers. The company has two divisions, the first dealing with the company's core airline business - the General Sales Agency (GSA) for Cathay Pacific, KLM, North West Airlines, Sri Lankan Airlines and Air Maldives (not functioning now). The new business would be another division of the company.