Technology is Caper’s USP
Bharat Bhushan Atree, MD, Caper Travel, is hopeful that the electronic visa facility will be extended to more countries soon. He says that through technology, excellent domestic products and dissemination of information, they are working to counter the ro
We are always open to change but there are no immediate plans. And apart from the businesses already mentioned, Caper Group also has under its umbrella two other tour operators - Aamantaran, whose expertise is Japan and Europe, and Hi-Life Tours, which is strong in the B2B inbound market. There is Softtix as well, your one-stop shop to all IT solu- tions, be it customised software or hi-tech hardware. So, as you can see, we have enough to keep us busy.
What sets Hi-Life Tours by Caper apart from other domestic tour operators?
Our group has offices pan India, which translates to better results. For instance, if a tourist faces a problem in Goa, we have staff at hand to handle it efficiently and quickly. With the already established Caper brand backing it, Hi-life Tours by Caper has the management strength and expertise to handle all kinds of products. Not just that, from rates to booking to hotel availability, we are technology- based unlike other travel companies. Plus from five-star to budget hotels, we have the most competitive rates in the market.
What are the roadblocks in promoting domestic tourism? How do you plan to counter them?
For starters, infrastructure and connectivity have been major roadblocks for the domestic sector. Added to it is poor promotion by state tourism departments. For an operator, it is the short gap between booking and travel time that often proves to be an obstacle. Domestic tourists generally tend to travel during school vacations or extended weekends. Through technology, excellent domestic products and dissemination of information, we are working our way to counter these obstacles.
How has 2014 been for you? What are your strategies for 2015?
2014 has been a tough year for the entire industry. For the next year, we are looking at different markets, especially the ones where electronic visa has been made available. Hopefully, more than 43 countries will be added to it soon.
For the next year, we are looking at different markets, especially the ones where electronic visa has been made available. Hopefully, more than 43 countries will be added
to it soon