SOTC Travel Opens First Anand Store as Gujarat Demand Rises

SOTC Expands in Gujarat

SOTC Travel has opened its first franchise outlet in Anand, Gujarat, expanding its network to five outlets in the state. Anand continues to be one of Gujarat’s essential source markets, supported by demand for domestic and international travel. SOTC Travel has opened the outlet to serve evolving traveller needs and strengthen its presence in the region.

The city’s economic activity, educational institutions and rising urban income levels have contributed to steady travel demand, making it suitable for network expansion. The outlet will serve leisure and business travellers, offering services across domestic and international holidays, including group tours, personalised holidays, and cruises, as well as add-on services such as travel insurance.

Travel trends from Anand and Gujarat indicate interest in destinations across Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, the Andaman Islands, Bhutan, and Sri Lanka. International travel demand includes Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Thailand, Bali, Japan, South Africa and Egypt. Travellers from the region are showing a preference for experiences such as cruises, Northern Lights trips in Scandinavia, self-drive holidays, island stays in the Maldives and Mauritius, and adventure travel in Ladakh and the North-East. Key customer segments include multi-generational families, honeymooners, working professionals, millennials and Gen Z travellers, with domestic and short-haul trips averaging between four and six days, and long-haul holidays between ten and twelve days. The new outlet is located at SOTC Holiday World Outlet, Narayan Empire, Anand, Gujarat.

Rakesh Bawa, Senior Vice President and Head – Holidays, SOTC Travel Limited, said, “Opening our first store in Anand is a strategic step in strengthening SOTC’s presence in Gujarat. Anand’s growing economy, strong educational base and rising affluence make it an important hub for travel demand. By expanding here, we are addressing the evolving needs of customers who want convenient, world-class holiday solutions. Gujarat is a key growth market for us, and Anand will play a significant role in driving our future expansion in the region. My team and I look forward to welcoming our customers at this new location and delighting them with exceptional travel offerings.”

SOTC Travel Limited is a step-down subsidiary of Fairfax Financial Holdings through Thomas Cook (India) Limited. The company operates across leisure, incentive, and business travel. Established in 1949, SOTC Travel is an Indian-grown brand with more than seventy-five years of experience, having served travellers across destinations worldwide. The company states that “No one understands the Indian Traveller better than SOTC”.

SOTC Travel has received several industry awards, including Best Integrated Marketing Campaign at the PATA Gold Awards 2025, Disruptor of the Year (Travel) at the MaxiiiMICE Awards 2025, and MICE Tour Operator of the Year (Domestic and Outbound) at the SATTE Awards 2025. Other recognitions include Asia’s Leading Travel Agency 2024 at the World Travel Awards 2024, Best Marketing Campaign for a Travel/Tourism brand at E4M Maverick Awards 2024, Domestic Tour Operator of the Year at SATTE 2024, and awards for Best Outbound Travel Operator and Best MICE Travel Operator at The Economic Times Travel & Tourism Annual Conclave & Awards 2023.

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