In this interaction, Kishan Biyani, MD, The ARK Travel Group, shares his perspective on evolving demand patterns, the impact of global uncertainty and how the company is engaging with the travel trade to strengthen cruise awareness and sales.
BOTT Desk
The Indian outbound cruise traveller is evolving steadily, with a growing preference for shorter, more accessible and entertainment-led cruise holidays. While the cruise business for the European and American sectors has been relatively slow in recent times, the Asian cruising market has witnessed encouraging momentum, especially out of Singapore. Products such as Dream Cruises and Disney Cruise Line have generated strong interest among Indian travellers, particularly families, young couples and first-time cruisers looking for a convenient international holiday experience.
Singapore continues to be one of the most promising cruise hubs for the Indian market due to its easy connectivity, shorter flying time, visa convenience and strong appeal as a family-friendly destination. The entry of globally popular brands has further helped in creating excitement around cruising, making it more aspirational and relatable for Indian holidaymakers.
However, the current geopolitical situation, rising airfares and the recent appeal by the Hon’ble Prime Minister to avoid unnecessary foreign travel have had an impact on outbound tourism demand. According to Biyani, several large corporates have either postponed their group travel plans or kept them on hold for the time being. This has led to a temporary slowdown in bigger movements. At the same time, smaller corporates continue to travel, and The ARK Travel Group is now focusing more closely on this segment to sustain business momentum.
Biyani believes that this is only a temporary phase and expects the market to return to normal once the Strait of Hormuz situation stabilises and travel confidence improves. In the meantime, the organisation is using this period productively by working closely with its travel trade partners.
The ARK Travel Group is actively conducting small interactive coffee sessions and webinars to educate partners about its cruise products. These initiatives are aimed at making cruise holidays easier to understand, promote and sell, while helping agents build confidence in recommending cruising as a strong holiday option for Indian travellers.
Follow BOTT on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter & Instagram
Subscribe BOTT Channels on WhatsApp & Telegram to receive real time updates
