Jungle Lodges and Resorts to expand network

Identifies 10 eco-tourism locations for developing resorts

Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR), a state-owned wildlife and eco-tourism company, plans to expand its network of lodges and resorts in the state by building more rooms through a public-private partnership (PPP) initiative. The company has identified 10 new locations in the state which are of high tourism potential for developing resorts.

According to JLR managing director Vinay Luthra, the number of rooms owned and operated by the company will be increased from the present 200 to 230 by October 2006 and 400 rooms in the next three years in the state. The company aims to add more rooms under the PPP initiative, he said.

He told Business Standard, "There is a lot of scope for developing eco-tourism in the state. We want more private companies to come and join us in creating the necessary infrastructure to promote eco-tourism. We have identified some of the most beautiful locations in the state which do not have proper accommodation and we will create facility by joining hands with the private hotels and resorts."

New locations identified by Jungle Lodges and Resorts are mostly in the northern districts. They are located in Bijapur, Gulbarga (Chincholi), Bellary, Bagalkot, Koppal, Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada (Pilikula), Udupi (Anejhari) and Shimoga. The company proposes to build at least 25-30 rooms in each of these places under franchisee model, he said.

"We will invest and build resorts at some of these places and give them to private firms for management and revenue sharing. We will also invite private firms to invest and build in some other places, wherein they will be given rights to use our brand name and pay royalty to us," Luthra said.

He said that JLR is presently in the process of finalising the business model for involving the private sector in developing new resorts in the state. Of the 10 new resorts being developed, JLR proposes to develop three resorts under 'B' category (JLR to invest and hand over to private firms for management), six resorts under 'C' category (private firms to invest and operate) and one resort to be built and managed by JLR.

All the new resorts being developed will be located at either a forest, river or bird sanctuary. The Jungle Lodges and Resorts will soon invite tenders seeking expression of interest from the private developers and aims to complete them by the beginning of tourism season in 2007, Luthra said.

The existing JLR properties include three wildlife lodges, three fishing camps, a private beach resort, a wilderness adventure resort, a nature camp and an elephant camp. These properties offer activities like wildlife safaris, elephant interactions, elephant rides, bird watching, boat rides, white water rafting, kayaking, canoe tours and parasailing.

The company, recently launched two houseboats at Karwar and proposes to add two more in October this year. The houseboats commence their 15-km journey in the morning and venture into the sea and sail into the backwaters of Kali river by the evening and return next morning. Each boat has two rooms.

For the year 2005-06, Jungle Lodges and Resorts is likely to achieve a net profit of Rs 3-4 crore on a total turnover of Rs 16 crore as against Rs 12.8 crore reported in the previous year. It has set a target of achieving Rs 20 crore turnover during the current fiscal. Its flagship resort at Kabini alone contributes nearly 30 per cent of its revenues, Luthra added.