’Rann Utsav’ changes hands,doubles tariffs

“We have outsourced the infrastructure set-up. The Tourism department’s role will be restricted to taking care of law and order situation in the area. Our focus has been the white Rann experience as always,and that is what we plan to sell even today. We have also garnered support from outbound and inbound travel operators to sell tour packages for Rann Utsav,” said Nirav Munshi,Manager (Hotels,Tours and Travels) at the Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Limited (TCGL).

While a two nights/three days package cost Rs 9,500 last year,it has been revised to Rs 15,000 per person,including pick-up from Bhuj,hotel and dining,while a three nights/four days package,which earlier cost Rs 12,500,has been revised to Rs 22,000 and a service tax of 7.42 per cent will be additional to the billed value. Tourists looking for shorter trips will be able to opt for a “New Year’s Eve package” at Rs 22,000,while a one-night stay for floating tourists from nearby areas will cost Rs 7,900 per person.

“We are trying to provide better tourist services by improving the on-site infrastructure. Gujarat Tourism retains the brand and they will provide us some marketing support while we manage the festival. However,in this edition,we are trying to incorporate Holi into the festival which is why we have made it a 94-day affair. The high rates are to make the festival sustainable. The festival was not making money for Gujarat Tourism. Hence they have gone for this move,” says Nikhil Agrawal,one of the promoters of Lallooji & Sons,Ahmedabad.

While Principal Secretary of Tourism Vipul Mittra could not be reached for comment,sources close to the development believe that the tourism department had exited ‘Rann Utsav’ which had been sold at Rs 3 crore for a year. However,a committee of tourism officials will monitor on-site activity and help market the festival.

Last year,around 19,000 tourists visited Rann Utsav,which included around 500 foreign tourists. “From a 45 day affair,this year we hope to hold it from December 14 to March 17,2014. We are trying to rope in additional attractions like Anti-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) rides in the desert,helicopter rides,hot air ballooning and paragliding. Tourists will have to pay extra for full day tours like Mandvi and India-Pakistan border as they need BSF permission,” added Agrawal.

However,the move has not gone down well with tour operators,who are struggling to sell the festival at high tariff rates. “If a family with kids were to come,it would cost them roughly Rs 40,000 for two nights and three days,while with the same amount one can visit Dubai or take a Bangkok-Pattaya trip. We had been getting a good response owing to the Gujarat Tourism ads,but now we fear that the high prices of the festival will drive the tourists away. For a visit to Mandvi beach and the India-Pak border,a tourist will have to bear around Rs 1,000-1,500 extra from now on. Last year,by this time of the year,I had made close to 800 bookings. This year,it’s been just 50 bookings so far,” said a tour operator.

The Indian Express spoke to some of the 100 listed tour operators on the Gujarat Tourism’s website and many believed that privatisation had come at a premium and will affect overall tourist footfall of the festival. “Earlier,the festival was a limited attraction. While the profit margins of tour operators have increased,the high tarrifs have put them in a risky spot,” commented Manish Sharma,Gujarat Tourism Development Society Chairman.

“Not even 10 per cent bookings have been made so far. Last year,I got around 4,000 inquiries by August. This year,there have only been 300. A major chunk of tourists would come from Mumbai,Pune,Nashik and also from down south,but due to the affordability quotient,we do not see much tourist activity happening anymore. The Rann Utsav,which was the backbone of the Gujarat Tourism’s campaign,has become a five-star property now,” said another tour operator in the city.