Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Ltd. (IRCTC) has gone beyond its primary business as a rail ticketing portal and has ventured into international tours.
The IRCTC, a government of India enterprise, which had been concentrating on inbound tours to various States, has started focusing on promoting trips to popular tourist spots abroad. The IRCTC offices of Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka — in Ernakulam, Chennai, and Bangalore — have come up with tailor-made international tour packages.
The IRCTC has announced a four-day three-night package from Kochi to Dubai from January 23 following the success of its maiden tour to Malaysia from the State. The package is limited to 24 persons to give personal attention to those flying to Dubai, says Rajeev Sadanandan, Regional Manager, IRCTC.
The package, ‘Magical Dubai Shopping Festival 2015,’ starting from Rs.44,155, includes to and fro ticket in Air India Express from Kochi, overseas travel insurance, three-star accommodation, all meals on full board basis, transportation by luxury coach, airport transfers, tour guide and English-speaking tour escort.
Visits to Burj Khalifa, the world’s tallest building, a Portuguese fort, the old village of Hatta, Global Village, camel race track, Dubai Racing Club and Golf Club, dhow cruise with dinner, and desert safari are part of the package.
An official said that the success of a four-day, three-night tour to Malaysia prompted the IRCTC to come up with a package to Dubai. “The IRCTC is working out international affordable tour packages with airlines and tour operators to cater to the demand for foreign tours from the State. Packages for Singapore are being planned. More domestic tours from Kerala could be introduced this year,” he added.
