Shalini KJ, Founder, Click2Travel.in
Travel was once the preserve of the well-heeled. A trip to an exotic destination was more of a status symbol than an experience to broaden one’s horizons. But, as airfares became cheaper and global connectivity improved, so did the profile of travelers.
On one side were the package tourists, for whom a holiday meant a series of quick visits to ‘must-see’ destinations, where the inevitable snapshots would be clicked for bragging rights back home. On the other was a growing number of travelers who wanted to go beyond the picture-postcard sights of a destination and immerse themselves in its authentic culture, traditions and cuisine. They preferred to travel to fewer places but experience them in far greater depth. Their trips are longer but slower as they let a place’s sights, sounds and history sink in.
Shalini KJ, very early on, saw the potential of catering to the latter group. So, when her childhood dream of becoming a Commercial Pilot did not materialize, she didn’t give up on her dream of making it in the niche travel business. An avid traveler, she had personally felt the lack of a travel firm that could curate a trip based on experiences rather than a destination. The large travel agents she had encountered offered commoditized, one-size-fits-all itineraries that catered to large groups of tourists. Using herself as an example, she wondered if she could find a niche in the experiential travel business, eschewing the standard template of what travel should be. Click2Travel.in was the result.
Click2Travel.in offers travelers the chance to get under a destination’s skin. Rather than flying from point to point, guests take trains, buses and local transport, giving them the chance to meet local people and appreciate the changing landscape around them. Instead of visiting tourist traps near prominent landmarks, guests are given enough time to walk around, eat at local restaurants and shop where the locals are. The focus is on soaking in the vibe of the destination, living in homestays and learning the unique traditions, languages and cuisine of a place. Trips are curated to meet guests’ interests, offering them off-beat but meaningful learning experiences like art courses, history walks and cooking classes. The result is a more gratifying experience designed to broaden travelers’ horizons and open their minds to new cultures and ideas.
Click2Travel.in despite always being a bootstrapped company, has grown from Shalini’s garage office to a full-fledged travel firm with three branches and affiliations with prominent channel partners worldwide.
Would you like to see the world the way Shalini does? Contact her at shalini@c2t.in.