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Bangalore: The "Golden Chariot", the luxury train run by Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation has seen a rush of corporates as KSTDC has launched a sales blitzkrieg to woo them with an attractive three-day package.
"We have received an excellent response to the package, with a group of 60 already confirming their bookings for December," KSTDC Managing Director Vinay Luthra said.
He said the package was drawn up keeping in mind the sales potential of the corporate sector, who have the money, but no time at their disposal.
The package, priced at Rs 9,500 per person covers the tourist circuit of Bangalore-Mysore (Kabini/Bandipur/ Srirangapatna) -Hassan (Belur, Halebid, Shravanabelagola)- Hampi (Vittala temple, stone chariot)-Pattadakal-Goa",he said.
"In case the corporate tourists wish to join the train at Hassan, we will take them from here to that city at our cost. If they wish to drop off at Hassan, it is our responsibilty to bring them back to Bangalore," he said.
Luthra said KSTDC was looking at an occupancy of 40-45 per cent for Golden Chariot for 2009-10, as against 35 per cent last year (2008-09).
Luthra said the 'Golden Chariot' had last year contributed Rs nine crore to the corporation revenue of Rs 50 crore.
"We (KSTDC) hope to grow by 10 per cent and are working towards a target of Rs 55 crore this year. We are optimistic about 20 per cent growth in the revenue of Golden Chariot this year and are aiming a revenue target of Rs 11 crore", he said.
In addition to the budget package tours, KSTDC has also introduced premium packages from November 1. While the target audience for the budget package was the "common man", that of the latter is the "middle and upper middle class".
"The concept is that though the tourists travel by the same buses, the hotels in which they are lodged are of much better quality. We have tied up with seven to eight private hotels for the purpose", Luthra said.
KSTDC, he said, has gone online for all its bookings (www.karnatakaholidays.net) including hotels which will soon be made online".
Luthra said the tourism industry which had taken a beating for over 10 months due to economic slowdown, Mumbai terror attack, H1N1 scare and recent floods, was slowly picking up now.
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