J Hotels checks into Goa, Kerala

Peerzada Abrar BANGALORE
The Economic Times dt.17/7/08


MALDIVES-BASED J Hotels & Resorts plans to set up resorts in Goa and Kerala as part of a strategy to tap into the Indian market and promote its retreats in the island nation.

A total of $50-$60 million will be invested in the Indian properties by the end of this year, with the funds being generated internally, sales and marketing director BA Rahim said. “We want to have a good setup in India to promote our properties back in Maldives to the Indian market. Now, connectivity has become easier between the two countries. Maldives earlier concentrated on the European market; we now see a huge potential in the Indian market due to the presence of corporates, the IT community and from honeymooning couples,” he said. The group already has marketing offices in Bangalore and Mumbai.

It plans to build 100 villas on 14 acres in the planned resort in the south of Goa and 60 villas in the Kerala property, which could be either a backwater, wildlife or beach resort.
“These will be upmarket resorts in pure Maldivian style with private pools, jacuzzis, big rest rooms,” Mr Rahim said. “We expect to have room occupancy of 85%-90 throughout the year. India has big potential as a leisure destination; our entry is just a step.”

J Hotels has resorts on the islands of Handufushi, Raalhuveli, Kuda Rah and Huvandhumaafushi in the Maldives. Its Handufushi resort is operational while the rest will be ready by October. In addition to corporates, the company is targetting clientele from the Indian film industry and expects to sign deals in about a month with Bollywood producers for movie shoots at its Maldives resort.

Maldives mainly attracts tourists from Spain, Greece, Japan and Korea with the . The peak season is from November till April. said Mr Rahim Last year, around 14000 Indians visited the island republic . The Maldives is an archipelago of 1,190 small coral islands that are grouped into 26 atolls.