Scenic Tours APAC and STIC GSA Services Announce a Strategic Partnership for Scenic and Emerald Luxury River Cruises in India
Travel Partnership

Scenic Tours APAC and STIC GSA Services Announce a Strategic Partnership for Scenic and Emerald Luxury River Cruises in India

24 August 2026
BrandsScenic & Emerald River Cruises
India PartnerSTIC GSA Services
Target AudienceHNI Indian Travellers

Scenic Tours APAC Pte. Ltd. and STIC GSA Services Private Limited, a leading travel representation company in India, today announced a strategic partnership to drive the growth of Scenic Luxury River Cruises and Emerald River Cruises in the Indian market.

The partnership brings together Scenic Group’s award-winning luxury river cruise brands with STIC’s extensive market expertise, trade relationships and distribution network in India. The shared focus will be on building brand awareness, strengthening trade engagement and growing the luxury river cruise category for HNI Indian travellers.

“India is an important growth market for Scenic Group, and the partnership with STIC marks a significant step in our APAC strategy. STIC’s strong market presence and deep understanding of the Indian travel trade make them the perfect partners to build a solid sales base for Scenic and Emerald Cruises in India. We are pleased to be working with their experienced and professional team to secure long-term growth in the India market.” — Anthony Laver, General Manager, Sales & Marketing, APAC

Focus on Trade Partnerships and Product Training

The partnership will see STIC work closely with Scenic’s APAC team to expand the Scenic and Emerald Cruises brands across key market segments in India. The particular focus will be on travel advisors, tour operators and other key trade partners. The collaboration will also support product training and provide the trade with the resources to effectively present luxury river cruising to their clients.

“We are delighted to bring Scenic and Emerald to the Indian market and see significant potential for both brands. Our team will focus on building strong trade partnerships, driving awareness and developing the business across India. With our market expertise and Scenic Group’s exceptional luxury cruise offering, we are confident this partnership will deliver strong and sustainable growth.” — Isha Goyal, Executive Director and CEO, STIC GSA Services Private Limited

STIC will lead the brands’ sales and market development activities in India, working with its established network of travel partners to identify new opportunities, strengthen distribution and drive demand for Scenic and Emerald’s river cruise experiences.

“We will be working closely with STIC to build the brands, strengthen trade engagement and convert opportunities into new business. Our team will focus on supporting our partners with the product knowledge, tools and marketing activities needed to grow Scenic and Emerald across India.” — Dominic Tan, Regional Sales and Marketing Manager, APAC, Scenic Group

Positioning River Cruising for Discerning Indian Travellers

Scenic Luxury River Cruises and Emerald River Cruises offer travellers the opportunity to explore some of the world’s most sought-after destinations by river, with land extensions also available. The brands combine immersive destination experiences with exceptional service, sophisticated onboard experiences and carefully curated itineraries. Scenic is recognised for its all-inclusive luxury river cruise experience, while Emerald offers a premium contemporary approach to river cruising, providing travellers with choice and flexibility across a range of European and Asia river journeys.

With Indian travellers increasingly seeking distinctive, experiential and premium holidays, the partnership is designed to position river cruising as an attractive option for discerning travellers, looking to combine destination discovery with comfort and convenience.

The partnership forms part of Scenic Group’s broader strategy to strengthen its presence across the Asia Pacific region, with its Singapore-based APAC team supporting the development of the Scenic and Emerald Cruises products across key regional markets.

About Scenic

Founded in Australia in 1986, Scenic Group has grown significantly over the past 40 years and sets the benchmark for innovation in luxury travel, creating award-winning river and ocean cruises and handcrafted land journeys. The company has grown into a global leader through its brands: Scenic Luxury Cruises & Tours, Emerald Cruises & Tours and Mayflower Cruises & Tours.

Scenic Group is the only cruise company to design, build, crew and operate its own ships with the expertise of its in-house shipbuilding division. This fully integrated model ensures exceptional quality and a consistently elevated guest experience. With a strong global footprint and high repeat guest rates, Scenic and Emerald Cruises are uniquely positioned to deliver seamless, end-to-end journeys across ocean and river cruises and land tours under each of the three brands.

About STIC Travel Group

Founded in 1973, STIC Travel Group is one of India’s most established and trusted travel service providers, specializing in global tourism and aviation representation. Headquartered in Cyber City, Gurgaon, STIC has a strong nationwide presence, ensuring seamless market reach across India.

With a legacy of excellence, STIC is the exclusive sales partner for eight international cruise brands, fourteen global airlines, and three mobility companies. Additionally, it offers a diverse range of travel-related services through its associate companies. Dedicated to delivering exceptional travel experiences, STIC partners with some of the world’s leading travel brands to bring unparalleled opportunities to Indian travelers.

STIC Travel Group — Representation Portfolio

  • Airlines: SriLankan Airlines, Ethiopian Airlines, United Airlines, Myanmar Airways International, Royal Jordanian Airlines, Royal Brunei Airlines, Lufthansa, Air China, Croatia Airlines, Nordwind Airlines, Georgian Wings, Aero Dili, Philippine Airlines
  • Cruise: Holland America Line, Windstar Cruises, A-ROSA River Cruises, Variety Cruises, Polar Latitudes Expeditions, Ponant Exploration, Scenic and Emerald Cruises. Distribution partners for Celestyal Cruises and Disney Cruise Lines
  • Mobility: Alamo Rent a Car, National Car Rental, Enterprise Rent a Car
Tags: Scenic Cruises, Emerald Cruises, STIC Travel Group, Luxury River Cruises, India Travel Trade, Scenic Group

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