MakeMyTrip pacts with Bhutan for holiday packages

Travel service provider MakeMyTrip today announced partnership with the government of Bhutan to roll out holiday packages for Indians looking to explore the neighbouring country this summer.

The company, which will operate chartered flights from Delhi and Mumbai in May and April, is offering week-long holiday packages for Rs 33,000 per person.

"We expect at least 2,500 people to visit Bhutan through MakeMytrip during the two months," MakeMyTrip Chief Marketing Officer Mohit Gupta told reporters here.

Gupta said in the past, holiday packages to destinations such as Ladakh, Maldives and Andamans have been a hit among travellers, which has encouraged the company to expand its operations to Bhutan.

As a part of the tie-up, the firm has signed MoUs with Drukair Airlines, the official air carrier of Bhutan and six hotels there.

In 2010, 40,873 high-end tourists visited Bhutan from across the globe, out of which 12,000 were from India and Bangladesh.

"This year we are looking to double the number of tourists from India," Tourism Council of Bhutan Marketing and Promotion Division Joint Director Chimmy Pem said.

She said for Indians travelling to the country require neither a visa nor do they have to pay the USD 200 per day fee charged from travellers from other countries.

Commenting on the benefits to consumers Gupta of MakeMyTrip said: "The packages that we have designed will offer a 40-50 per cent lower pricing to travellers as compared to what it costs them otherwise."

For the financial year ended March, 2010, MakeMyTrip had registered sales of Rs 2,200 crore. The company has presence in 30 locations within India.