Dear Chandresh, I totally agree that too much leakage goes on. This is both with foreign agents and tour companies, and also with many of the larger booking sites that charge exorbitant commission levels, provide little service to travellers, and contribute very little to the development of the destination itself. There is a better option.
With www.whl.travel, each destination website is owned and operated by a local, and is linked into the benefits of a global network (SEO, marketing, distribution, training etc). We try to select local franchisees that are already active in responsible tourism, and dedicated to caring for their destination. These franchisees only pay us based on the amount of traffic we drive to their sites... so no traffic, no fees. This is also capped, so the vast majority of the profits not only stay in the destination, but many of these smaller providers now have access to free websites, booking functions, and additional global distribution channels. Better for the traveller too... book with a local, get local advice, and travel more responsibly. On that note, I wanted to announce our planned expansion into India. We will have around 200 live destinations around the world shortly, with around 80 more under development. We plan to launch another 200 sites across India in 2009 /2010 creating the largest network of locally owned and operated travel booking sites in the country, targeting international as well as domestic travellers. A key objective is to offer product from smaller and more unique accommodation and tour providers; from those offering an interesting opportunity to connect with local people and the environment; and from those with a commitment to responsible tourism and benefiting local communities. So, if you, or someone you know in India, is an existing tour operator who is committed to responsible tourism, please feel free to contact me ([email protected]) or visit http://sales.whl.travel/ . Kind regards Shaun Gilchrist whl.travel
