Travel planners organise women-only group tours

India’s leading travel companies are curating women-only group tours to popular domestic and international destinations. Recognising safety as one of the top concerns of women travellers, a key element is the inclusion of a dedicated woman tour manager. These tours celebrate and cater to India’s women with a range of local experiences, outdoor adventure, shopping, spa and wellness experiences and more..

According to Frost & Sullivan’s report, travel by India’s business women is expected to increase ten-fold to aprox. 10,000,000 (ten million) outbound annual trips by 2030. A recent survey by Thomas Cook India further validated the strong potential of Indian women travellers, reporting a significant 34 per cent growth in both international and domestic trips, across business, leisure and b-leisure segments.

The women-only tours will allow women to enjoy a sense of freedom and comfort in the company of women co-travellers while exploring a range of destinations like Switzerland, France, Singapore, Thailand, Dubai, Abu Dhabi; also Bhutan, Ladakh, Goa, Kerala, Rajasthan and the Andamans across the Indian sub-continent.

A recent survey reveals that women today are no longer limited to being part of family vacations, but are increasingly travellers in their own right. Hence women-only tours will make for journeys of self-discovery. Think enriching local experiences such as Muay Thai/kick boxing in Thailand, Flamenco dancing in Spain, or a cooking class with local chefs in Malaysia, Tuscany or at Le Cordon Bleu in France. Fun experiences range from a Vespa tour in Singapore, a pool party in Vegas, kayaking in Qatar’s unique mangrove ecosystem to adrenalin-infused elements like an F1 drive around the Yas Marina circuit or a bungee jump off South Africa’s Bloukrans Bridge. Relaxed programmes offered are a temple stay amidst Korea’s serene mountains, spa-wellness in Bali or a laid back self-drive through New Zealand’s spectacular outdoors.

Age is no longer a barrier to the Indian woman’s travel aspirations. There is a significant rise in girl students going abroad for studies, equally from millennials and corporate women to empty nesters and retired women - speaking highly of their willingness to embrace new cultures, and break out of their comfort zones. Girl gang tours, kitty party groups as well as bachelorette getaways are also seeing strong uptake of over 27 per cent, with Indian women showing interest in Singapore’s pub crawls, a beach break at Malaysia’s Redang Island, a wild ride on Abu Dhabi’s Formula Rossa or Miami’s famed club hopping.

While India’s metros and mini metros (including Mumbai, Delhi, Pune, Ahmedabad, Bengaluru) have been contributing over 63 per cent to the overall pie of women travellers, regional India’s Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities have been emerging strongly, and these include Chandigarh, Nagpur, Kochi, Coimbatore, Panaji, Guwahati, etc.

Domestic destinations too are showing growth of 18 per cent over the previous year; locales like Shillong, Rann of Kutch, Hampi, Kovalam and Dharamshala are popular for their heritage tours and rich natural beauty. Local experiences include archery sessions, ayurveda, yoga and spa sessions, local cooking experiences, etc.

Mr. Rajeev Kale, President and Country Head of a leading travel company said, “Women are power driving travel demand and our exclusive Ladies First, women-only group tours are designed for women seeking immersive and fun experiences without the hassle of travel logistics. We have already witnessed a growth of 34 per cent in bookings from women travellers with destinations including Paris, U.K., Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Singapore, Indonesia, Korea, Japan and Canada-USA in high demand.” He added, “Safety is a vital element, and we have ensured that our expert women tour managers accompany all our group tours to ensure security and comfort.”