The next journey of the Deccan Odyssey, a luxurious and expensive five-star train, will offer commuters a 25% discount. Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC) has offered the sop to attract rich Indian travellers.
The train will leave Mumbai on January 30 and return on February 6. It will take passengers to the pristine beaches of Sindhudurg and Goa, apart from historical marvels in Aurangabad (Ellora), Jalgaon ( Ajanta) and forests in Kolhapur and Nashik as well.
The train is popular among foreigners, especially Germans and the French.
According to an estimate by tourism corporation officials, Indian travellers contribute hardly 5% of the total passengers. The MTDC officials believe the primary reason for the poor number of Indian travellers is the steeply priced tickets, which comes down to around Rs4 lakh (including taxes) for a seven-day trip.
Deccan Odyssey, run jointly by Indian Railways and the Maharashtra government, is the second such train to be introduced in the country in 2005, after Palace on Wheels run by Rajasthan tourism department.
The 10 fully air-conditioned deluxe cabins train has all the five-star hotel facilities such as four twin-bedded chambers and two presidential suites. It has a bar, business centre and other amenities apart from entertainment, sauna and laundry services round the clock.
According to the statistics available with Ministry of Tourism for 2011, the number of Indians visiting other countries stood at 14.21 million. Further, the domestic travelling within the country by the Indian traveller has been recorded at 851 million.
“Indian travellers now spend a lot of money on luxury and enjoying the good things life offers. They go out for planned trips and cruises. However, there is a strange magical appeal about long rail journeys,” marketing manager of MTDC Sanjay Dhekane said, adding that a sense of adventure stirs the soul once you step onto the train, sit comfortably in your cabin and gaze outside as people and places whiz past.
“Such huge discounts will surely attract a section of Indian travellers towards a luxurious train journey,” he added.
Luxury Train
Deccan Odyssey, run jointly by Indian Railways and the Maharashtra government, is the second such train to be introduced in the country in 2005, after Palace on Wheels run by Rajasthan tourism department.
