'Golden Chariot' cynosure of all eyes at Asia travel mart
The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation's luxury train, 'Golden Chariot', was the cynosure of all eyes at the Asia Luxury Travel Mart in Shanghai, attracting a number of enquiries from travel operators, a top official said.
"The Golden Chariot, which was showcased at the travel mart for the first time, received some good leads from Chinese and Australian travel operators," KSTDC Managing Director Vinay Luthra told PTI.
Since Australians in general are very enthusiastic about train journeys, they evinced a lot of interest in the Golden Chariot. "In fact, we want to follow up with a roadshow in Australia, which we hope to do by mid-next year," he said.
"Chinese travel operators have a keen interest in India, but not much awareness. The travel mart gave us a good opportunity to educate them about Indian tourism, especially the rich historical and cultural heritage of Karnataka," Luthra said.
He said the KSTDC is in talks with a Chinese travel operator keen on becoming an agent for the Golden Chariot in Shanghai.
Luthra said the corporation had not ignored the domestic market and has launched a marketing blitzkrieg for the Golden Chariot, with a series of roadshows in major cities.
"We have already covered Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Ahmedabad, where the response has been excellent, and will move to Surat, Mumbai, Chennai and Kochi for the roadshows," he said.
KSTDC has upgraded four of its properties in Madikeri, Srirangapatna, Belur and Brindavan Garden in Mysore and will expand the Hoysala heritage property opposite Hotel Metropole in Mysore.
"We will invest Rs 5 crore for upgradation and expansion of this property with 10 additional rooms, a conference hall and a multi-cuisine restaurant. Tenders have been finalised, while work is yet to start," Luthra said.
Two more properties at Nandi Hills, in Dodaballapur district, and Kommannugundi, in Chikmagalur district, which belong to the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms and Horticulture, are being handed over to the KSTDC.
"Upgradation of the two properties will be completed by August, 2011," he said.
The KSTDC, which has 35 tour packages covering major tourist destinations, will start a new Volvo bus tourist package for coastal destinations, including Mangalore, the temple town of Udupi, St Mary's Island near Malpe (Udupi district) and Murudeshwar (Uttar Kannada district), Luthra said.
"We will also extend the one-day Belur-Halebidu package to Chikmagalur, Horanadu and Sringeri, making it a one-night, two-day package", he said.
To a question on the Golden Chariot, which is still running at a loss, Luthra said the luxury train, operational for two years, was being refurbished by KSTDC at a cost of Rs 50 lakh.
"It is more of a promotional train which opens up beautiful interior areas of Karnataka like Badami, Aihole and Hampi," he said.
"We hope to break even by 2011-12 as far as the Golden Chariot is concerned. KSTDC's turnover has seen an upturn this year, with a revenue of Rs 45 crore, 20 per cent up over last year," he said, adding that the Tourism Corporation is looking at a similar growth this year.
