Finderbridge Tourism is targetting Rs 1.50 crore in FY 2023-2024 and is eyeing Rs 10 crore valuation in the same financial year.

Guwahati: Finderbridge Tourism, one of the leading travel organisations in the Northeast Indian region, saw substantial success during Nagaland's Hornbill Festival and Meghalaya's Cherry Blossom Festival, both held this winter season. 

The travel firm registered a revenue of Rs 6.28 lakhs from the Hornbill Festival alone and generated a further Rs 1.41 lakhs during the Cherry Blossom festival, its founder Himangshu Baruah shared with Business North East.

"If we break down the figures, our company registered a group tour revenue of Rs 2.90 lakhs, with additional earnings of Rs 1.36 lakhs from vehicle and accommodation services", Baruah said, adding that the "comprehensive tour packages" contributed another Rs 2.02 lakhs.

At the cherry blossom festival, Finderbridge Tourism generated Rs 88,000 from tour packages and an additional Rs 52,500 from camping and vehicle services. "Our firm also served as the destination marketing partner for the festival, showcasing its multifaceted role in the tourism industry", Baruah shared.

Tourism in the Northeast states is an emerging industry and the region is a highly sought-after travel destination globally. In 2022, the region witnessed significant growth with over 11.8 million domestic visitors and 100,000 international travelers. From an estimated Rs 9,000 crores, tourism value in the region has grown to Rs 30,000 crores annually, experiencing a remarkable growth rate of 32-38% per year.

Baruah believes that the Northeast will become the top travel destination in India within the next two years and shared his company's commitment to "revolutionizing" the Northeast India tourism Industry through innovative destination marketing solutions.

Emphasizing the significance of destination marketing while speaking to Business North East, Baruah described it as a process that involves promoting and advertising a specific location to attract potential visitors. "The goal is to create a positive image, showcase unique features, and persuade people to visit", Baruah said. "This strategy will not only attract visitors but also enhance the local economy, build brand awareness, support community development, and encourage sustainable tourism."

Providing insights into Finderbridge Tourism's offerings, Baruah disclosed that the exclusive Nagaland group tour package costs Rs 25,000 per person, with customized packages ranging from 20,000 to 40,000 based on the number of people and days. Vehicle costs, on the other hand, start from Rs 6,000 per day.

Reflecting on the festival season in Northeast India, spanning from September's Ziro Music Festival in Arunachal Pradesh to December's Orange Festival in the same state, Baruah shared that they have organised 32 different types of tours.

Speaking to Business North East, Baruah reveals that they have set a target to close the financial year 2023-2024 at Rs 1.50 crores, and are aiming to surpass a valuation of Rs 10 crores in the same financial year. Finderbridge Tourism, on average, receives 35-40 bookings per month.

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