The new owners of the Thomas Cook brand in the Middle East, Dubai Finance (DF), are remaining tight-lipped about the future of the well-known travel company in the Middle East.
ATN
has made several attempts to contact DF, but the company’s Dubai-based PR company has repeatedly stated that the individuals qualified to comment on the plans for the Thomas Cook brand are “out of the country”.
Meanwhile, industry speculation is rife that Thomas Cook will roll out a tour operation, travel agency chain, or both, across the Middle East, starting in the UAE.
“Thomas Cook will open in Dubai to start and then cover around 15 countries in the region,” Ayman Altaranissi, manager, incentive & PCO at Thomas Cook Overseas Ltd, revealed to
ATN
.
He did not have information on the structure of the company, but confirmed it would adopt the current Thomas Cook Overseas logo.
ATN
reported last month how DF, a subsidiary of Dubai Investment Group (DIG) – the global financial investor of Dubai Holding – had obtained the license from Germany’s Thomas Cook AG to use the Thomas Cook brand in the Middle East, in addition to its acquisition of Thomas Cook Overseas Ltd and Thomas Cook Lebanon S.A.L.
As a result, established Dubai-based travel company, Thomas Cook Al Rostamani, has ditched the Thomas Cook brand and is currently in the process of rebranding its five branches and 13 currency exchange outlets to Al Rostamani Travel.
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