Yatra.com targets $250 mln revenue by 2008-end

New Delhi, Jul 24 (UNI) Yatra.com, the country's leading travel portal company, aims at more than doubling its revenues to 250 million dollars by the year-end.

''During 2007, we had revenues worth 117 million dollars which we plan to increase up to 250 million dollars by the end of this year,'' company Founder and CEO Dhruv Shringi said here today on the sidelines of a conference.

The company has a 35 per cent market share in the online travel segment, which is growing by 60-65 per cent in the country, he said.

Asked whether the recent hike in the aviation turbine fuel (ATF) prices had an adverse impact on the tourism industry, Mr Shringi said, ''Undoubtedly, there has been a decline of 15-20 per cent in the business, but it has more to do with the monsoon season as people travel less during this period of the year.'' However, the company expects more inflow during October and thereafter with the beginning of festival season.

The company also operates various value added services such as online booking of hotels and tour packages, reserve hotel rooms and car rentals along with online booking of airline, railway and bus tickets.

Yatra.com has complemented its online reach to larger user base through its own yatra-lounges and tie-ups with telecom retail and cybercafes such as Reliance Communications outlets, Sify i-way and Hughes NetFusion and even through mobile phone applications.

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