‘Tourism In India Is Looking Bright & Promising’

With their Jaipur property on the cards, Goa resort currently undergoing upgradation and Casino Goa running successfully, Advani Hotels and Resorts (India) Ltd, is cruising at a leisurely pace in the Indian hospitality waters. Sunder Advani, chairman and managing director, ADHRIL, in conversation with Savio Rodrigues, speaks about the developments in his company

EH&C: What in your opinion, is the current scenario in the Indian tourism industry?

SUNDER ADVANI: The Indian tourism industry is certainly looking bright and the future looks promising. Inbound tourism is on the rise and domestic tourism is receiving its much-needed impetus.

What do you believe is Goa's share of this burgeoning market?

Goa is certainly doing well. Certain areas like the airport infrastructure and better road infrastructure need to be addressed, if Goa is to move towards competing with some of the best tourist destinations in the world. The tourism department in Goa is certainly working hard to promote the state, through its marketing and promotional endeavours. Goa, though a part of India, the state is considered to be a complete and whole entity in itself.

Your company is looking at starting a property in Jaipur shortly. What is the current status?

The company has acquired land in Jaipur for the purpose of developing it into a 145-room, five-star hotel. However, prior to the commencement of any development of the proposed property, certain legal concerns with regard to the developmental issues have to be sorted out. Once this is done actual development will commence.

With Goa chief minister Manohar Parrikar on a crusade to shut casino dens, are casinos in Goa facing unnecessary adverse criticism from the state government?

The fact that the chief minister is on a crusade has been slightly misunderstood. His crusade is against curtailing illegal casino dens, not all casinos in general.

With regard to the Casino Goa, on board the Caravela cruise ship all the necessary licences from both the Centre and state have been duly procured and it is a perfectly legal operation. It took the organisation more than five years to procure the requisite licences.

With the casino 30 kms from the Ramada Caravela Beach Resort, has there been any direct or indirect consequence on the beach resort if not the casino itself?

The casino is doing well as guests staying at the Ramada Caravela Beach Resort frequent the cruise ship often. In fact, Casino Goa has a tie-up with other hotels, wherein their guests visiting Goa can visit and enjoy the casino on the Caravela cruise ship. We are trying to bring the Casino Goa to land and talks are on with concerned departments about the feasibility of such a move.

What makes the Casino Goa such a unique experience?

Through our union with Casinos Austria International, a leading casino management company, we have brought to India arguably India's only professional entity in the casino business. From the training of our employees to the security and gaming standards, everything at the Casino Goa spells international standards of professionalism.