Thomas Cook India & SOTC Relaunch a Bigger, Better China Holidays Portfolio
After a long pause, China is once again opening its doors to Indian travellers — and the timing couldn’t be better. With direct flights resuming, simplified visas, and renewed diplomatic warmth, Thomas Cook India and SOTC Travel have relaunched China as a key destination, complete with an expanded portfolio that’s already seeing strong demand.
Internal booking trends show a surge of interest across traveller segments — families, GenZ and millennials, working professionals, couples, seniors, even solo travellers — with departures selling out well ahead of time, despite October–November traditionally being a quieter season.
Old Favourites + Exciting New Destinations
The refreshed holiday line-up combines China’s classic icons with newer, offbeat experiences. Travellers can still enjoy the futuristic skyline of Shanghai, the magical Bund, Beijing’s Great Wall and Forbidden City, and Xi’an’s legendary Terracotta Army.
But the new additions bring a whole new dimension:
- Chongqing – a dramatic “5D city” with a cyberpunk skyline, glowing night cruises and its spectacular 360° rotating theatre.
- Chengdu – home of the world-famous Giant Panda reserves, atmospheric teahouses and fiery Sichuan cuisine.
- Zhangjiajie – the mystical Avatar Mountains with glass bridges, sky-high elevators and breathtaking scenery.
And of course, there are those bucket-list experiences — the ultra-fast Shanghai Maglev, the dazzling Yangtze River drone shows, Michelin-starred meals, river cruises, and even private Baijiu distillery tastings for the curious.
Thoughtfully Designed Group Tours
Group travel gets a major upgrade here. The tours offer high-speed train connections (including the popular Xi’an–Beijing route), porter services at large stations, and thoughtfully planned menus featuring Indian favourites as well as Chinese specialities. Indian chefs are scheduled on select departures — especially to assist vegetarians.
The portfolio also includes China + Japan multi-destination tours, particularly popular during cherry blossom season.
A Boost for Business Travel & MICE
With China’s trade events back in full swing and major cities like Shanghai and Beijing emerging as business hubs, corporates are showing renewed interest as well. Thomas Cook India and SOTC report a growing demand for business trips, conferences, meetings and incentive travel — with “bleisure” (business + leisure) gaining popularity too.
What the Leaders Say
Rajeev Kale, President & Country Head – Holidays, MICE, Visa, Thomas Cook (India) Limited, said that direct flights have opened the doors once again, and the enhanced portfolio goes “beyond the conventional,” offering experiences that resonate with India’s new-age holidaymaker — as well as strong potential for MICE.
S.D. Nandakumar, President & Country Head – Holidays & Corporate Tours, SOTC Travel, emphasised that China’s return offers a “significant opportunity,” with travellers now looking for seamless, value-rich experiences — both traditional and new.
Indiver Rastogi, President & Group Head, Global Business Travel, highlighted that improved bilateral ties and booming trade events are driving renewed business travel momentum.