Banana County eyes World Heritage Site

Banana County Resort Pvt Ltd, the Karwar-based two-year old hospitality firm, is looking at world heritage site of Badami, Aihole and coastal pilgrim town, Murudeshwar for expansion. The company currently runs a resort at Yallapur, about 65 km from Hubli.

Said M G Hebbar, Managing Director, Banana County Resort, "After setting up our first property at Yallapur, we are planning to expand our network in other major tourist places in north Karnataka. North Karnataka has not been given the due importance in terms of tourism development, be it setting up of hotels or basic infrastructure at important tourism locations. So, we want to make use of the immense potential available for setting up hotels in such places."

He claimed that the Karnataka Tourism Department has been encouraging them to set up a unit in Badami.

As part of its expansion plans, the company is currently in the process of adding 25 more cottages at its resort at Yallapur. Spread over 23 acres, Banana County Resort is close to many popular tourism places like Om beach, Gokarna, Magod Falls, Satoddi Falls, Jenkallagudda (sunset point), Yana, Bedthi and Kali rivers and Jog Falls among others.

During 2006-07, the company reported Rs 1.2 crore business turnover with about 80 per cent occupancy. For the year-ending March 2008, the company expects around 15-20 per cent growth. The company has so far invested Rs 4 crore and is planning a further Rs 2 crore for expansion and is actively wooing the IT sector employees.