Ola urges India to travel responsibly; collaborates with 7 State Tourism Boards to promote responsible tourism and offbeat travel

The campaign #GhoomoResponsibly encourages travelers to be responsible tourists, take the road less travelled, and explore hidden gems with convenient inter-city cabs across India

• Shri Priyank M. Kharge, Minister of State for Tourism, Biotechnology, and Information Technology, Government of Karnataka flags off the unique campaign in Bengaluru
• Famous actress and vlogger Shenaz Treasury, to travel across India through 21 locations across 7 states viz. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala, Rajasthan, Gujarat, and Assam

18 September, 2017: In line with the United Nation’s theme for this year’s World Tourism Day, Ola, India’s most popular mobile app for transportation, has come together with 7 prominent State Tourism Departments and Corporations to promote ‘responsible tourism’. To raise awareness about responsible tourism and promote road travel to lesser-known locales across the country, Ola has roped in popular VJ turned actor, model, writer, and travel vlogger, Shenaz Treasury for a 7-state, 12-day and 21 locations expedition across India with Ola Outstation.

Tourism as a sector is rapidly growing in India, accounting for nearly 10% of the country’s GDP (in 2016). As the number of visitors grow each year, both domestic and international, it is vital to invest in responsible tourism activities that will go a long way in protecting and conserving India’s vibrant cultural heritage present in every corner of the country. Fostering an ecosystem that enables a deep-dive into local culture and experience is also, important to promote the growth of the sector. Solutions like Ola Outstation, a smart mobility solution for inter-city travel are tailor-made to enable convenient and affordable road transport to deep corners of the country, ensuring a truly unique and unforgettable experience for domestic and international tourists alike.

Ola’s campaign was flagged off by Shri Priyank M. Kharge, Hon’ble Minister of State for Information Technology, Biotechnology, and Tourism, Government of Karnataka from Bengaluru’s Vidhana Soudha. On September 16th, Shenaz hit the road starting from Karnataka, traveling across 6 other states, to conclude in Mumbai after 12 days. In this journey, she will be discovering architectural marvels and mesmerising locales in Aihole, Gandikota, Kalakho, Samode, Kumarakom, and Majauli, and many more on the way.

Pranay Jivrajka, Founding Partner, Ola said, “We are thrilled to be collaborating with tourism boards across the country, where we will be jointly building a responsible tourism ecosystem through Ola Outstation. The Ola Outstation category is second only to the Indian Railways in terms of network and connects over 1000+ cities and towns across the country, giving a much needed impetus to tourism. Given the deep economic as well as the social and cultural impact that tourism brings, it becomes extremely important to promote responsible tourism. With Ola Outstation, our intention is to encourage tourism in a manner that is respectful of local culture and sentiment, environment-friendly, and aids in promoting local economy. By encouraging travellers to focus on lesser known wonders and marvels in nooks and crannies of the country, we are also looking to unlock the real potential of tourism in a well-endowed country like ours.”

Shenaz Treasury, actress and travel vlogger said, “I have travelled across several countries and continents, but India holds a special place in my heart since every single state has something unique to offer. Being a passionate traveller, I strongly feel that the preservation of our natural and cultural heritage across the country is facing a grave threat. There is now a need more than ever for us to travel consciously, respectfully, and responsibly. From avoiding littering to encouraging local economy, there is a lot each one of us can do that will go a long way in keeping the country’s cultural legacy intact. I am thrilled to partner with Ola, be the flag-bearer of this message, and embark on what I am certain, will be an exciting journey of exploring India by road with Ola Outstation. And, Ola Play in my cab is going to be an excellent travel companion!” Shenaz further adds, “I encourage people to take the road less travelled, explore the abundant off-beat locations. Take road trips, soak in some breathtaking experiences, and enjoy the scenic landscapes that our country has to offer.”

The initiative also, promotes tourism by encouraging road travel to less explored and hidden gems that are easily accessible with a smart and affordable solution like Ola Outstation.Ola has joined forces with  Maharashtra Tourism Development Corporation (MTDC), Kerala Tourism Department, Andhra Pradesh Tourism Development Corporation Ltd, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat Ltd (TCGL), Rajasthan Tourism Department, Assam Tourism Department, and Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC).

Ola Outstation connects over 1000+ cities and towns across the country, comes with the best fleet of cars and, trained, verified, and top rated driver partners. To ensure that the customer enjoys a smooth and comfortable on-road experience, every cab on the Outstation category goes through stringent checks. With over 500 one-way trips enabled and services live in 80+ cities already, the category is set to grow substantially over the next few months.

About Ola:

Founded in Jan 2011 by IIT Bombay alumni Bhavish Aggarwal and Ankit Bhati, Ola (formerly Olacabs), is India’s most popular mobile app for personal transportation. Ola integrates city transportation for customers and driver partners onto a mobile technology platform ensuring convenient, transparent and quick service fulfillment. Ola is committed to its mission of building mobility for a billion people. Using the Ola mobile app, users across 110 cities can book from over 700,000 vehicles across cabs, auto-rickshaws and taxis. Ola has also introduced a range of shared mobility services on its platform like Ola Shuttle and Ola Share for commute and ride-sharing respectively. The app is available on Windows, Android and iOS platforms. Please visitwww.olacabs.com/media for more information.

For additional details, please contact:

Surabhi Patodia | media@olacabs.com | +91 9741277703