''Self-Driving Tourism Tour'' reaches its final leg

Panaji, Nov 3 (UNI) The International car rally ''Self-Driving Tourism Tour'', comprising more than 70 participants from 12 countries, will be flagged off from Goa tomorrow.

This month-long unique and exciting tour of India is promoted by John Brown, Chief Organiser of the 4x4 Explorer Club, popularly known as Historic Endurance Rallying (HERO) organised by around 2,500 like-minded members from across the world.

The Rally commenced from the Gateway of India in Mumbai on October 7 and took the pre-set course of driving via Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Goa.

The tour finishes on November 6 in Mumbai at the same place from where it began. The participants covered a distance of 7,575 km while passing through 23 cities.

Mr Brown, accompanied at Goa by Go India Journey Vice President Sandeep Dayal and Goa Tourism Development Managing Director Sanjit Rodrigues, said the event gives participants an opportunity to experience the vast diversity of India with its wonders, sights, sounds, culture, food and also to interact with local people from different parts of the country.

''We had invited people from all over the world to spend a month discovering India. This event has proved to be a great success'', he added.

Mr Brown said the club enables and encourages owners of Luxury 4 WD vehicles to take up long distance journeys to discover exotic spots and travel on hinterland routes unknown to people.

Participants share their experience and explore new and beautiful destinations during the tour.

The Goa for leg of the rally was supported by the Goa Tourism Development Corporation. The participants visited the world heritage monuments in old Goa before proceeding to Fort Aguada Resort, where they had a halt in the city.

Mr Brown said earlier the event had taken place in South America, Africa, Russia, China and Mongolia.

UNI