Tuesday, December 21 2004 12:30 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bangalore: Russian tour operators who regularly bring tourists to Goa are now looking at Karnataka as an add on tourist circuit.

"Adventure loving Russians were impressed by the activities that are offered at our resort in Dandeli and beach resorts in Devbagh and Om beach near Karwar, and wish to include it their tourist circuit on a regular basis," Vinay Luthra, managing director Jungle Lodges and Resorts Private Limited (JLR), the eco tourism wing of Karnataka, said.

Some Russian tourist groups have visited Dandeli in North Karnataka and enjoyed the white water rafting in Supa reservoir and visits to Anshi National Park, besides to the second largest Tibetan settlement in Mundgod, 75 km from Dandeli, he told reporters.

"With the number of chartered flights from Russian tour groups increasing to 200 from 120 last year, we expect good business," he said.

JLR, a regular in World Travel Mart in London, this year struck partnerships with London-based Palanquin Travels who are into Adventure and Discovery holidays, to bring student groups and adventure enthusiasts, Luthra said.

Olympia, a Finnish air travel company wants to bring groups to Dandeli specifically for Western Ghats trekking and safaris into the jungles of Dandeli, he said.

The other companies that have shown a lot of interest include High and Wild, an adventure tours company from Somerset, WTMG from Madrid, Spain and Sunliz Publications from Bahrain which is keen to bring the royalty of Bahrain to JLR properties, Luthra said.

JLR which has 12 properties in Karnataka is looking at a turnover of Rs 10.3 crore at the end of the current financial year as against 7.8 crore last year, Luthra said.