The IRCTC’s Outbound Tourism packages already include South East Asian and Gulf countries. In a move to expand their international product offering, it plans to take passengers on “value for money” package tours to far-off destinations like Australia, Greece and South Africa this year.

Rahul Himalian, Additional General Manager, IRCTC, said, “In the past, we organised tours to Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Sri Lanka and Dubai. Now, we want to introduce economical package tours to Australia, Greece, Turkey and South Africa. Our profit margins are not as high as those of private operators and we are fully accountable for our services. This is why citizens prefer our packages (in groups of 20, 40 or 60).”

He said there are plans to introduce mix-and-match tours as well; for example a 12-days-11-nights tour for Australia and Singapore, where one can travel by reputed airlines and stay in the best hotels at an economical price. IRCTC will also add new destinations to the existing packages. For example, a Thailand package, which usually covers Bangkok and Pattaya in five days, will get Phuket as an additional destination and the number of days will be increased.

“We will improve our network of travel operators across the world and forge ties with leading airlines to block seats on specific dates at reasonable rates,” Himalian said. A South India tour (Saptarangi Dakshin darshan) will kick off on 23rd of this month while a five days and four nights tour of Thailand, which will cover two cities is scheduled for July 13, 2013.

IRCTC has also sought government approvals to include AC saloon luxury coaches in trains plying between Mumbai and Goa and has tied up with Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) to promote tourism within the state.