Kahini Chakraborty – Mumbai
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Chinmay Divekar
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Nature Trails Resorts is open to franchising model for its expansion in major metros on pan India basis. Presently having five properties- Durshet Forest Lodge, Kundalika Rafting Camp, Koyna Backwater Camp, Dabhosa Waterfall Resort and Sajan Nature Club, the company is looking at introducing newer adventure activities and upgrading the existing properties. Speaking to Express TravelWorld, Chinmay Divekar, director, Nature Trails Resorts said, “We are open to franchising with anyone who already has established properties in unique and unexplored destinations which are two-three hours drive from metropolitan cities. This year our focus will be on Maharashtra and next year we would look at Bengaluru and Hyderabad for expansion.”
About 40 per cent of the company’s clients consists of families and FITs, 30 per cent are be corporates and another 30 per cent comprise of schools. Last year, the company launched Saturday night breaks packages. “We look for unique and unexplored destinations which are easily accessible. Nature and adventure related activities are our key positioning factors,” he added. When asked about the promotion of adventure tourism in Maharashtra by the state government, Divekar informed, “The Maharashtra government has come out with a GR which focuses on regulating all adventure tour operators. Going forward, compliance to the GR is compulsory. Hopefully it should not cause losses to the business.”
He further opined that Maharashtra is the biggest contributor to adventure tourism segment. “Mumbai and Pune have huge potential and there is a strong demand too, but unfortunately the state government is not actively promoting this segment. But tour operators like us are promoting this segment aggressively,” he pointed out.
Taking about the trends seen in adventure tourism so far, Divekar opined, “There are three factors contributing to the healthy growth of business, firstly the advent of the internet which has affected our business in a positive way, secondly changes in the economic scenario and corporates demanding for outdoor adventure activities for team building exercises, and lastly more number of people nowadays are opting for ‘active’ holidays.”
