Kochi: With the elderly population in the country seeing a steady rise, travel company Thomas Cook has launched packaged tours for the affluent senior citizens, eyeing the huge potential in this sector. The current population of the affluent elderly in the country was approximately 23 million, expected to touch 50 million by 2020.
Thomas Cook (India) last month launched 'Silver Brakes' for those over 60 years of age and the response had been "very good", according to its Managing Director Madhavan Menon. "There will be provisions for easy access transportation, easy entry and exits, buses with low steps, relaxed itineraries, special diets, porters to carry heavy bags, have been launched," he said. Abraham Alapatt, Chief Innovation Officer and Head Marketing and Service Quality, said effort had also been made to ensure there was minimal travel times between cities and late starts in the mornings.
Special dietary requirements would also be taken care of and medical assistance provided on need. The company has so far done 150 odd packages and this year expected to fill up 10-20 groups with 40 persons in each group, he added. The tour is being organised in group and individual basis. The favourite destinations are Asia, including Thailand, Malaysia and Singapore and Europe.
There are also a lot of women wanting to travel alone and in women's groups. "We have launched a line of products specifically targeting women out bound and in bound," Madhavan said. Both the packages launched a month ago have had good responses, he said, adding, they had already organised at least four 'women's only' trips so far with the fairer sex in the 25-45 age group.
