Taj Leisure to foray into eco-tourism

CHANDIGARH: With an investment of Rs 100 crore for upgradation of its products and services, Taj Leisure Hotels plans to come out with new initiatives and packages for eco-tourism both for international and the domestic travelers.
Taj Leisure Hotels, one of the three strategic business units of the Indian Hotels Co. Ltd, plans green-field investments to enter the area of eco-tourism as it is drawing up plans to build small resorts at selected locations of the Himalayan range for entering the eco-tourism segment.Besides Himachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Bhutan and North Eastern states are in the offing.
Speaking to The Times of India, Jamshed Daboo, chief operating officer of Taj Leisure Hotels said that the green-field investments are in the planning stage and the board of directors of the company has cleared the proposal. The leisure division will invest Rs 100 crore spread over three years. It also plans to open two new resorts, one in Gwalior in Madhya Pradesh and the other in Kovalam, Kerala, which are expected to be ready in the next 6 months.
With this initiative, the company targets Rs 240 crore in the next fiscal, a 20 per cent growth from Rs 200 crore in 2002-03 (Jan-Dec).
In India, eco-tourism projects include: Project Tiger, Bengal tigers, wildlife in India, national parks, sanctuaries, elephant safaris, angling, fishing, jungle lodges, wild trails, bird watching across India and the especially the Himalayan belt.
``Saving the environment around you and preserving the natural luxuries and forest life, that''s what eco-tourism is all about. Whether it''s about a nature camp or organising trekking trips in the unspoilt and inaccessible regions, one should always keep in mind not to create any mishap or disturbance in the life cycle of nature,'' said Daboo. He adds that in order to promote eco-tourism in the highly potential northern part of the country; the company has big plans in these northern states.
Daboo said, ``The domestic tourist have increased by 15 per cent, a major chunk coming from Punjab and Haryana despite a drop among international tourist due to Sars scare, cross border terrorism.
The company has 50 hotels in 34 locations including 11 international properties. However, the three hot belts for leisure tourism still continue to be Kerala, Rajasthan and Goa.
With an increase in the high-end domestic tourists visiting the premium hotels, he claims a 25 per cent market share in the segment and the contribution of the leisure hotels to the group turnover around 20 per cent.
``We have an average occupancy level of 80 per cent this winter and the ratio of domestic to international tourist is now 50:50,'' he said.