Pugmarks Holidays to offer three homestay facilities in Tadoba National Park, Nagpur by October this year

Mumbai-based Pugmarks Holidays, involved in Adventure and Wildlife Tourism, is looking at promoting homestays near national parks in India. As part of its pilot project, the company will start offering three homestays (two rooms each) in Tadoba Andhari Tiger Reserve (National Park) near Nagpur in Maharashtra by October this year. The company will also start training the local community on skills to specialise in naturalist courses to involve them directly in the tourism industry. The company is also keen to expand its homestay facilities in other national parks of the country in future.

Talking about the aim behind the homestay project, Anirudh Chaoji, Director, Pugmarks Holidays said, “The concept of homestays at National Parks will not only provide first hand experience to adventure lovers but also help the local community to earn revenue. By training them on certain things like communication skills and language, they can be more fruitful as compared to trained naturalists.”

Adding on the potential of homestays and Ecotourism in India, Chaoji said, “Awareness about Ecotourism is required on a high scale among travellers in India. Travelling to an eco-friendly destination and staying at a five-star air conditioned accommodation is not the way to experience Green Tourism. Travellers need to understand the difference and start opting for real Ecotourism experience. The concept of homestays is in the budding stage in India, especially in states like Kerala, Maharashtra, Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh. As per the saying, ‘In Rome, do as Romans do’; travellers should stay within the community to understand the local culture.”