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Aasheesh Sharma
The monument of love can be visited for a song. Well, almost. The Travel Corporation of India's (TCI) all inclusive tour to the Taj Mahal and back has been pegged at Rs 1,500. The trip, which was launched in November last year, has already won approval of more than 2,500 satisfied travellers, who are proclaiming it as ``value for money.'' Says Art Kaufman, in the Capital for a conference from the United States: ``They provided very good service and have a friendly and efficient countenance.''
What is it that makes this trip so special? The answer is indulgence at a pocket-friendly price. Beginning with a pick-up from the hotel in an airconditioned coach at 7 am, to breakfast at Country Inn, to a sumptuous lunch at the Hotel Taj View, to mineral water and shoe-covers once you alight at the monument.
``Our first stop is Sikandara, Emperor Akbar's final resting place. Here a well qualified escort explains the history behind the tomb. The moment you reach Agra, a local guide, well versed in the town's richand colourful past, takes over,'' says Homa Mistry, branch manager, TCI, New Delhi. Now that the trip has clocked 2,500 consumers, what is its target audience?
``Our core target audience are people not residing in Delhi, who are visiting the Capital for a short trip. Almost 85 per cent of these have been foreigners, till now. This has been the case because we have been concentrating on tourists staying in 5-star hotels,'' says Mistry.
``The tour was conducted in an excellent manner and the service is difficult to improve. It is real value for money,'' says English businessman Cliff Beeyers. ``They should advertise in more places so that more tourists get to know of the package. I found the staff was cooperative and the guide well- versed and articulate,'' says Cresswell Johnson, on a vacation to the Capital from London.
But TCI is now shifting focus to two other segments-embassies and travel agencies. Alternatively, when any embassy hires a car for a trip to the Taj, it has to shell out an expensivebill of $ 200. ``Since lots of diplomatic staff keep visiting the country, it could be a profitable foray. As regarding travel agencies, we are providing them an incentive of Rs 300 as commission, which is Rs 200 higher than the international norms. This is an amount, they may not make even through international ticketing, owing to the heavy competition,'' feels Mistry.
To strengthen their position in the tourism market, the Taj package is being marketed to the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry, (FICCI), and the Confederation of Indian Industries (CII).
``We took 150 delegates from a CII conference to the Taj and 100 people from the Road Transport Conference of FICCI. Since FICCI was happy with that, it also entrusted us with taking the visiting Pakistani business delegation to Agra and back. Now we are looking at approaching the Associated Chambers of Commerce (ASSOCHAM) and the PHD Chambers of Commerce for similar ventures,'' says Mistry. It makes a lot of sense to target thebusiness chambers because they have a round-the-year itinerary of conferences and meetings, feels Mistry. A majority of such meetings are held in Delhi and a large section of the participants are foreigners who would like to go to Taj. ``The fact that there is an organised trip adds to the feeling of fun en masse. We take the tourists to three sightseeing sites,'' says Mistry.
To service a trip everyday of the year (except Mondays, when the monument is closed) needs a well-oiled infrastructure. Mistry claims that TCI, India's largest travel agency conglomerate, has that in place. ``We have our own coaches, tempo travellers and cars. All drivers are in uniform and English-speaking. Also we have offices in both Delhi and Agra. Therefore, any hiccups at either end can be attended to immediately,'' he says.
Local sightseeing after a lavish buffet lunch at Taj view includes a visit to the craft workshop, a maze of battlements in Agra fort built by Akbar plus a magic show! The contingent starts for the Capitalat five in the evening with another stopover at Country Inn for snacks and refreshments. There is a 50 per cent discount for children below 10 years and a complimentary photograph of every person at the Taj. ``So that they can look back at the rendezvous with a smile,'' says Mistry.
Copyright © 1999 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
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This story was printed from Net Express located at http://www.expressindia.com. Net Express provides a portal to India, with news from The Indian Express and The Financial Express along with sites on travel and tourism, the entertainment industry, the power sector, the environment and much more.
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