The Consumer: Sop Opera

Rai says it does not matter whether this is due to the slump in the tourism market following 9/11. What matters is the bottomline and the news is that the Rs 1,200-crore Oberoi group is expecting a 30 per cent rise in reservations following newly-designed packages which guarantee the moon (additional rooms, free stay for children, food coupons, movies of choice, unlimited use of gym, sauna and so on). And timings? March 15 to September 15 and again from December 1 to May 30—virtually the entire year.

The tourism industry is not alone. Special packages are the norm of the day for everyone, from beverages and tobacco companies to white goods to transportation and communication to clothing and even healthcare. The consumer is faced with a feast of choices. And strangely enough, both consumers and companies are winners in this game.