| The state-owned Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR), a wildlife and eco-tourism company, is eyeing other states.
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| The company, which has considerable expertise in building and managing lodges, and resorts in forests of Karnataka over the last three decades. It will now venture out for the first time to help other states build similar resorts.
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| Says JLR managing director Vinay Luthra, “We have been approached by the governments of Jammu & Kashmir, Orissa, Jharkhand and Rajasthan to prepare feasibility report and business plan for developing eco-tourism and wildlife tourism in their states. We will use our expertise in providing them solutions to suit to their requirements.”
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| JLR is presently in talks with the government of Orissa to prepare a business plan for developing eco-tourism in Bhitar Kanika, a popular crocodile sanctuary, Simlipal tiger reserve, Chilka lake, a nesting place for migratory birds and Chandipur on the east coast. It also provides consultancy services to the government of Jammu & Kashmir for setting up resorts and cottages in Ladakh, Ramgarh National Park, Dachigam sanctuary, Tsomoriri and Hokesar wetland reserves, he said.
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| “We will also prepare a policy, organisational structure and marketing plans for building cottages and prepare a business plan to these states. The government of Orissa approached us about eight months ago. The preparation of the business plan is in the final stages and will be submitted to them shortly,” Luthra told Business Standard.
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| Similarly, the government of J&K has asked the company to give them a solution about two months ago. Talks are in advanced stages with the government of Rajasthan to prepare an eco-tourism plan, while the government of Jharkhand has also written to JLR recently, he said.
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| “As a state-owned company, we are not authorised to take up construction of lodges and resorts outside the state, but we can provide consultancy services to anyone. At present, we have no plan to invest outside Karnataka,” Luthra said.
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| The company is presently busy in building more lodges and resorts in the northern districts of Karnataka under the public-private participation. JLR is in the process of finalising the business model for involving the private sector in developing new resorts in the state.
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| 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.
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| Luthra said that several companies from India and abroad have evinced interest in investing in the tourism sector in the state.
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| Tesmac, a Kenya-based wildlife operator and Wilderness Resorts Pvt Ltd of Zimbabwe have expressed their willingness to develop wildlife tourism in the state, he said. “We are not ready for any foreign investment in the state,” he added. |
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