February 6, 2018 TnH Global

Thomas Cook India receives top honour at The French Ambassador’s Travel Awards

Conferred with the Diamond Award for highest number of visa issuances in India for the third time in a row

Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., India’s leading integrated travel and travel related financial services company, has been conferred with the premier Diamond Award for registering the highest number of French visa deliveries in 2017, at the French Ambassador’s Travel Awards established to honour outstanding performers in the travel and tourism industry in India. Thomas Cook (India) Ltd. has won the Diamond Award for all three years since its inception.

Thomas Cook India’s internal research has highlighted that France continues to feature as a top destination on the Indian traveller’s bucket list; also reiterates increased Indian traveller appetite for newer French locales and experiences, equally growing interest for non-traditional opportunities like cuisine and winter holidays. Apart from Paris, the regions of Northern France like Picardy; Champagne – Ardenne and Lille; South France’s highly alluring Nice and Cannes; Occitanie in South West France; Ski resorts such as Courchevel and Méribel, in addition to the ever popular Chamonix Mont Blanc in the Auvergne Rhone Alpes region are growing in popularity, with Thomas Cook India seeing strong demand across its key segments of leisure, corporate MICE and b-leisure.

According to Atout France, the France Tourism Development Agency in India: the number of visas issued by French Consulates in India increased by 25% in 2017, as compared to 2016.

Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head- Leisure Travel, MICE, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd., said, “It is truly an honour to receive the prestigious Diamond Award at the French Ambassador’s Travel Awards- for the third time in a row. France holds favoured destination status across our traveller segments at Thomas Cook India – whether group or individual; leisure traveller, as well as MICE, Corporate and B-leisure.”

Kale added, “The Government of France and its Tourism Board, Atour-France, have been outstanding in their support and in facilitating visas for Indian consumers. We are honored to partner with a country that shares the same strategic pro-tourism intent.

He concluded with, “The France Ambassador’s Diamond Award is both a recognition of our strategic focus towards Destination France, as also a reflection of the unstinted support we receive from the Visa Officers of the France Consular offices in Mumbai and across India and we are highly appreciative of all their efforts.”

His Excellency Mr. Alexandre Ziegler, Ambassador of France to India, said, “For the third consecutive year, Thomas Cook (India) Ltd has been at the forefront and has proven itself to be the leader in the domain of visa issuances for France translating into the highest number of outbound travellers ex India to France. I thank them for their commitment and relentless efforts in showcasing France and in adhering to the norms of the procedures. Thomas Cook is a market leader in promotion of France and I encourage them to continue and assure them of my wholehearted support.”

Sheetal Munshaw, Director Atout France says, “This recognition bestowed on Thomas Cook is a fitting acknowledgement to their diligent efforts in showcasing France as a preferred destination of choice for both group, individual and business travel. We take this opportunity to sincerely thank team Thomas Cook for their steadfast support in helping us fortify France’s positioning as a top European destination from the Indian perspective.”