The ownership and top management of India Tours, under the leadership of Tapas Banerjee, is a group of
young and dynamic people. We are in the trade for only one reason - we love it; and this
is what that makes us different from our competitors.We do not claim to offer better tours
by showing 'better' the sights of India with cheap travel packages. The latter are a part
of our historical creativity for all to see and form their independent opinions. It is our
inherent love for people and our desire to serve them that make our tourists feel wanted
and cared for. This in turn engenders their faith and confidence in our intentions and
abilities. With this kind of assurance, our tourists are in a better state of mind to
appreciate the tour without feeling edgy or defensive about an alien country with an alien
culture. Personalisation of relationships is the mainstay of our tours and we are able to
provide the same for the following reasons :
First, we make an effort
to understand the needs & interest of our customers. We make an effort to maintain a
flexible and pragmatic approach to tourism. In this website, we will NOT restrict you with
suggested tour itineraries, but, lay out for you destinations that we think would be
fascinating. Then, depending on your interest, and your comments about the destinations
listed, we would use our skills to tailor make a "Special Interest" tour that
would take into consideration both your choice of destination as well as your special
interest be it photography, walking, biking, wildlife viewing, observing traditional
cultures and lifestyles, art & architecture etc. The reason behind this approach is an
effort to personalise the tour to the interest and choice of the customer.
Second, we do not consider
people as numbers or files to be dealt with. Each individual represents to us an
individual identity, with whom we look forward to establishing genuine friendship
Third, all our special interest
tours are fully escorted by hand picked quality escorts. We are confident of the
intentions and motivations of the escorts we work with. Also, we are in complete
realisation of the fact that in a service trade all depends upon the quality and amount of
efforts one puts in. Our escorts are not only well informed about the places covered in
the tour, they are well educated and from cultured families. Besides being able to discus
with tourists on diverse topics (not limited to travel alone), they spread good humor and
cheer - thus creating a sort of family atmosphere where everybody cares and is tolerant of
fellow tourists. We have had tourists leaving with tears in their eyes. So strong was
their love for India and so strong was their attachment to our escort who made it possible
for them to have such a wonderful holiday within a family atmosphere.
Fourth, we expend a lot of time
and effort in identifying hotels we think our tourists need. The hotels are hand picked
and reasonably priced. Many of them, although modernised , still retain their character
and old world charm. We look for clean comfortable beds, clean western style attached
toilets with hot and cold running water, good ambience, clean uniform of staff, good
restaurants with a choice of meals, air-conditioning and the most important thing that is
the the personalisation of service. The atmosphere should be friendly, helpful and
hospitable - the essence of our tours.
Fifth,we also enjoy the
privilege of being bestowed with some of the best rates from the leading hotels of the
country. This enables to us the opportunity to provide the best hotels at the best prices.
In todays age when customers are net conscious, they tend to check the hotels they
are to stay. It pleases them no ends when they realise that they are booked in top end
hotels.
Finally, within India, we operate
through a network of extremely professional sub-agents. Again, here we share the same kind
of family relationship that brings out the best in each of us for the other and our
tourists. Besides, the personalisation of services,
one of our relative advantages is that we are all from the field and thus have a greater
insight in to both what the tourists want to see as well as what our market has to offer.
This is the main reason that makes it possible for us to tailor make tour programs to the
special interest of our customers. Our field knowledge also helps us to add value to our
tours at each stage; and here the personality of the tour operator comes into relevance.
Vis--vis monuments, we feel more attracted towards things that are alive, things we can
relate to and things which help us to see our lives in a different perspective. When I
reverse the situation and see what fascinates me, for instance when I am in England, I get
an answer to what would fascinate people from the West in India. I will not deny that the
Buckingham Palace, The Trafalgar Square, Westminster, Windsor Castle did come across to me
as very awesome buildings, but they were not my highlights in England. What is etched in
my mind as a sweet and unforgettable experience are things that are related to the day to
day life of the British society; a massive sea of humanity at Victoria Station going up or
down the escalators in an orderly calm, people travelling long distances on British Rail
without exchanging a word of conversation, seeing young girls wearing shorter than short
shorts going for a morning walk with their dogs, newspaper shops, fruit stalls, rag
markets, people consuming food at fast food restaurants, the atmosphere in pubs, young
couples hugging and kissing in public places, the uniform of the police, the speed of the
traffic etc. are things that I remember most, because they happen so differently in India.
The experience enables me to see my own life in a completely different perspective.
Similarly, in India, we would take our
people on escorted walks through popular bazaars , visit to typical homes and work places
(Brick works, papermaking, village potters etc.). We would find time to escape from big
cities to see everyday life in tribal villages, unchanged for centuries. We would interact
with the locals, organise typical magic shows and folk dances. This way the trip is much
more alive, fulfilling and realistic. Women love to have themselves outfitted - buying
their own material and having themselves ' sized up; by a tailor at a reasonable price. It
is not the price, but the feeling of participation that is important. Rides in cycle
rickshaws, 3-wheel auto - rickshaws and horse drawn carriages are invariably accompanied
by peals of laughter from both the people inside the carriage, as well as the onlookers.
Imagine walking on a pavement with our escort in a colourful bazaar and bumping into a
pavement barber or more seriously a pavement dentist - their 'wares' including a laughing
set of dentures proudly displayed on the pavement. Tourists return with a much greater
understanding of the country they have visited. If shown correctly, India is like falling
in love - the experience goes straight to the heart and stirs the soul. But to obtain
these results, the tour operator should be dedicated towards research on what is available
in his country, have a love for people and must experience pleasure in showing tourists
his country and countrymen.
We, in all humility thank the almighty
for our success and look forward to greater accomplishments with your co-operation. We are
extending a hand of friendship towards you - a friendship that you would always cherish.
We realise
that it would be difficult for you to evaluate the quality of services we promise.
However, there is a way out. Try talking to us; try corresponding with us. You would soon
realise that you are dealing with a "different" kind of people who hold a very
distinct and refreshing attitude towards not only the tour trade, but, also in the manner
they deal with you. There is also another way out; upon your request, we can mail to you a
sample list of customers who have been on our various tours in the last few years. We
suggest you get in touch with them for a first hand account of the customers side of
the story. Somebody said, and, we agreed that the proof of the pudding is in eating it !!
So, why not take opinions and impressions of the people who have " Tasted " the
pudding.?