New Delhi sources have reported that the Tourism Ministry and the IRCTC have enlisted 60 bloggers from 23 countries, including India, as part of a new publicity blitz to write on luxury trains run by the railways and improve their dwindling occupancy rate. Accordingly the first of its kind venture will allow the bloggers to take a week long journey on Palace on Wheels, Maharaja Express, Deccan Odyssey and Golden Chariot in groups of 15 on each of the trains.
Meanwhile the first 15 bloggers started their journey today on the Palace on Wheels from Safdarjung Railway Station in New Delhi. Presently the decision to promote travel on the trains comes after a recent parliamentary panel report pointed out that the occupancy rate during past four years starting in 2012-13 had been 29.8%, 32.3%, 41%, 41.58% and 36.03% respectively.
As per the statement "The campaign will
generate widespread publicity for the luxury trains as well as the destinations
visited, by way of blogs, videos and photos published by the bloggers or
Instagrammers on their experiences of their journey”.
