Slump-hit tea estates go big on leisure tourism in Hills"

Sovon Manna,TNN, KOLKATA: Weighed down by steep escalation in output costs, erratic weather and dip in price recovery, iconic tea producers in Darjeeling are now turning their heritage bungalows into tourist retreats — replete with facilities like spa, wellness, yoga and tea testing. While Hills plantation biggies like Goodricke, Ambootia, Jungpana and Orange Valley are in advance stages of embarking on tea tourism, most of the existing players like Chamong and Goomtee are going for a big expansion.

According to top producers’ body Darjeeling Tea Association (DTA), the trend would augur well for the estates amid deep concerns over business viability. DTA chairman Binod Mohan told TOI: “More and more estates are embracing tea tourism in their search for new ways to earn revenue. It will give tourists an opportunity to experience colonial lifestyle in the lap of the Himalayas.”

Goodricke group has recently geared up to refurbish its heritage bungalows in Thurbo and Margaret’s Hope estates into resorts. “It is not necessary that the producers, themselves, have to turn hoteliers. Ours will be run by professional bodies. We will invest Rs 2 crore on each bungalow,” a company source told TOI.

The upcoming resort at Makaibari tea estate, too, will be owned by Bengal Ambuja and Taj Hotels will run it. “A Taj-run property in Kurseong can open doors to other hotel groups, which, in turn, may inspire the nearby estates to go for tourism,” added the DTA chairman.

Earlier this year, two high-profile Darjeeling gardens — Jungpana and Goomtee — have changed hands from the Kolkata-based Kejriwal family to another planter Sanjay Agarwal. “We are planning to set up a resort in Jungpana in 18 months. It will have12-16 units. At Goomtee, we plan to upgrade a four-room set-up to a full-fledged six-room resort,” said Agarwal.

Sanjay Bansal of Ambootia Group has also confirmed a new tea tourism venture in three of its Hills gardens. “It’s a Catch-22 situation for us. The labourers are migrating to nontea projects. Bushes are getting old. So, we will set up a lean venture by 2019,” Bansal added. His group plans to invest Rs 2 crore on each resort and is looking to tie up with an eco-tourism firm to start work in six to seven months.

Bagaria Group-owned Orange Valley, too, is reported to have unveiled a similar project.

Existing players like Glenburn, Soureni, Singtom and Chamong, which have become tea-travellers’ delight for the last two-three decades, are spreading wings like never before. Chamong Group has embarked on a big expansion spree with Rs 5 crore investment in each property to build a 20-unit-strong resort. Its chairman Ashok Lohia said: “I don’t want it to be another hotel. We are opening a spa-cum-wellness-yoga centre at Chamong along with teatesting sessions.”

Indian Tea Association (ITA), however, seeks some changes in the rules governing tea tourism in Bengal. ITA secretary S Patra said: “We want a change in the five-acre ceiling per estate for tourism. A single-window clearance and an entertainment tax holiday for five/six years for tourism projects are needed.”