The Hindu Business Line : Abacus Distribution set to launch product for tour packages

ABACUS Distribution Systems (India) said that it would launch a product that would allow travel agents and airlines in the country to sell tour itineraries on their central reservation system.

Called the Abacus Travel Network, the product would enable the agent to sell a tour as a single package that would include flight bookings, car rentals, hotel reservations, and ground arrangements, among other things.

The company hopes to sell the product to tour operators such as SOTC, Travel Corporation of India, Sri Raj Travels, Thomas Cook India Ltd and holiday arms of Jet Airways (Jet Escapes) and Indian Airlines.

The product is available abroad and is used by Cathay Holidays and Fuji, a travel Web site, among others. Abacus plans to launch the product in India by the year-end or early next year.

According to Mr Viiveck Verma, Managing Director, India, the global distribution system (GDS) company would charge the travel agent a transaction-based fee. The agent would, in turn, charge a commission from the service provider concerned. Abacus India is a wholly owned subsidiary of the Singapore-based global distribution system (GDS).

India is a key market for the company, which plans to expand its network to 100 offices by setting up a presence in the `B' and `C' level cities such as Guwahati, Shillong and Port Blair. The company currently has 40 offices in the country.

Talking about the costs airlines incur on using their systems, he said the GDS fees accounted for less than 1 per cent of airline revenues. On average, the airlines paid GDS companies about $4 for each segment. He projected that the country's travel market would continue to grow by 20-25 per cent for the next two years.

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