THE travel culture in this part of the world, particularly in Dubai, is often associated with luxury, with many global travellers seeking out a beach or spa retreat.
The highest levels of service executed in a decadent setting, whether staying, dining or relaxing, tempt travellers time and time again. Yet over the last five years a new trend has emerged in the region, with the term ‘adventure travel’ gaining popularity. This is perhaps in part to the increase in locally based adventures such as skydiving and kite-surfing.
One company that has taken advantage of this trend is outbound travel adventure company Mountain Quests, which offers hikes and treks, mountaineering expeditions, mountain biking adventures and adrenaline breaks (for example, bungee jumping and white water rafting) in Nepal.
With activities centred around the Himalayas, Dubai-based co-owner Matt Farr is as passionate as he is knowledgeable about the destination with his own personal journey starting in 2008 with a trip to Everest Base Camp. After several years of exploration, he left his career in finance to set up Mountain Quests, having come to realise that, despite the growing number of people wishing to visit, the Middle East was poorly serviced with companies offering Himalaya experiences.
Set up in April, 2011, with offices in both Dubai and Kathmandu, Mountain Quests are already well on track to exceed their target by at least 100 per cent by the end of 2012. But what is it exactly that has led to such interest?
“There are several reasons why Nepal appeals to our clients,” explains Farr. “In terms of logistics, Kathmandu is serviced extremely well by airlines with Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah and Doha all offering direct flights to Nepal’s capital. Flight times are limited to about four hours, which means there are no arduous journeys. Secondly, most of our customers list ‘seeing a new culture and way of life’ as either the most important or second most important reason they want to travel.
Finally, although different, Nepal also has a track record for tourism, which means that while our clients are able to escape their familiar lifestyles at home, we are able to rely upon a well-developed network geared towards foreign visitors, including language skills, transportation and international cuisine. We are able to offer many trips that our competitors currently do not and this is due to our fully functional office in Kathmandu, registered with the relevant agencies in Nepal. As a result, we can create interesting and exciting trips because we have full control of our operations, allowing us to attract clients who may not be able to find such adventures elsewhere.”
Mountain Quests plan to expand its reach to attract clients from the region and beyond. It is also currently looking into other destinations to add to Nepal, including Pakistan (Karakoram) and the Northern Indian Himalayas. Another element of the company’s development strategy is to work with travel agents who either specialise in, or who want the opportunity to grow their business, in adventure travel, as well as potential collaboration with an airline to jointly promote Nepal as a destination.
With its promising track record, Farr attributes its success to several factors: “With our own office and staff in Nepal, we can provide the excellent service and safety assurances our clients expect. The second reason is that as the company owner, I share the same passions as our clients, meaning that I understand what they are hoping to experience. As a result, many of our clients have voiced that they feel a sense of trust in the company and I am very proud of that.
“On a different note, the climate in the UAE towards entrepreneurship and business growth is strong. People are very willing to work together for mutual benefit and competitors understand that we are able to build our community together for the benefit of all. This atmosphere has definitely contributed to the success of Mountain Quests.”
For more information, visit www.mountainquests.com
By Karen Osman