Golden Chariot, the luxury train of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), was the cynosure of all eyes at the Asia Luxury Travel Mart at Shanghai, attracting a number of enquiries from travel operators from China and Australia, its top official said.
“Golden Chariot, which was showcased at the travel mart for the first time received some good leads from Chinese and Australian travel operators,” KSTDC Managing Director Vinay Luthra said. Since Australians in general are very enthusiastic about train journeys, they evinced a lot of interest in the Golden Chariot. “In fact, we want to follow up with a road show in Australia which we hope to do by mid next year,” he said.
“Chinese travel operators have a keen interest in India but not much awareness. The travel mart gave us a good opportunity to educate them about Indian tourism, especially the rich historical and cultural heritage of Karnataka,” Luthra said. He said KSTDC is in talks with a Chinese travel operator keen on becoming a travel agent for Golden Chariot in Shanghai.
Luthra said the corporation had not ignored the domestic market and has launched a marketing blitzkreig for Golden Chariot with a series of roadshows in major cities. “We have already covered Delhi,Hyderabad, Kolkata, Pune and Ahmedabad, where the response has been excellent and will move to Surat, Mumbai, Chennai and Kochi for the roadshows,” he said.
KSTDC has upgraded four of its properties — Madikeri, Srirangapatna, Belur and Brindavan Gardens in Mysore — and will expand the heritage Hoysala property opposite Hotel Metropole in Mysore. “We will invest Rs 5 crore for the upgrade and expansion of this property with 10 additional rooms, a conference hall and a multi-cuisine restaurant. Tenders have been finalised while work is yet to start,” Luthra said.
