Insight Vacations has reported rising interest in its fledgling India program with forward bookings for its second season up 100% year on year.
Although off a low base, the growth has been welcomed as a positive sign for the program by the coach touring firm which kicks off its series of 2014 departures next month.
Managing director, Joost Timmer, told Travel Today that, while the first season was dominated by repeat customers, this year the majority of travellers are first time Insight passengers.
“So we’re starting to see some new traffic come through on India which is really, really good,” he said.
But he confirmed that the firm will operate departures of its Indian itineraries on low numbers, “just to really get it off the ground”.
Insight has its own coach fleet in India, with an average 40 seats on board each of the new vehicles.
“They’re the best thing on the road,” Timmer said. “Our product’s really sitting at the upper end of the coach touring market and there are not many operators that service that space.”
That “unique” offering is helping to drive sales, as are preconceptions of India as a difficult travel destination, according to Timmer.
“Travelling on a group basis offers that safety net for many – India is now always perceived as the easiest destination to travel through,” he said.
Also helping to drive sales is the range of itineraries available which also encompasses neighbouring destinations Sri Lanka, Nepal and Bhutan.
“Bhutan is still very small numbers but it’s coming – there are not many coach operators that service the Bhutan region,” Timmer said. “But the focus is still very much on India.”
