Yatra.com to promote single destination tourism

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Wednesday, February 20, 2008 at 0012 hrs Globetrotters have a reason to rejoice with Yatra Online Pvt Ltd, as the online travel company is planning to promote single destination tourism through its portal. This will be done in association with the tourism boards of various countries. While customers can already design their holiday packages for Mauritius through Yatra.com, many more exotic destinations are awaiting to be explored. The company, in collaboration with Malaysian tourism board, has designed Formula One packages for the F1 lovers and they'll be available on the website shortly.

"Next on the cards is Switzerland, the tie up with Swiss tourism board is likely to happen next week. After that we'll be targeting UK as well," confirmed Dhruv Shringi, Co founder and CEO, Yatra.com. He further told FE, "Since 23% of the online travelers prefer going abroad, promoting a single destination and letting the customers design their own holiday packages can prove to be successful. We are also trying to tap the Indian diaspora in countries like the US, UK and Canada etc. For facilitating travel of these people to India, we have already launched our USA-India portal few months back. The site records over 2,500 hits per day and about 25-30 bookings are done on daily basis."

With a target to open about 100 retail outlets at a cost of Rs 18-20 crore, Yatra.com is expanding its reach pan India. It recently opened its holiday lounge in Gurgaon and another one has been launched in Chandigarh. Expanding about the retail plans, Dhruv said, "The aim of opening such lounges is to tap the evolved customers and offer wide choices for cash payment. With about 2,550 visitors from Punjab hitting our website everyday, 50% hail from Chandigarh. About 20 holiday lounges will come up in Bangalore, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Hyderabad, Ludhiana and Jalandhar by the end of March. The tier II & III towns will be covered by franchisee outlets. We are expecting to generate revenues worth Rs 20 crore in a year from Punjab through this lounge."