Verticalsoft launches adventureportal

NEW DELHI: Verticalsoft, a 50:50 joint venture between US-based Colfax
International and Cresco Technology, has launched what it calls the "world’s
first dedicated and focused Web site on adventure sports and eco tourism.

The logic behind adventureportal.com, a brainchild of VisualSoft director
Prateek Jain, is that adventure sports and eco-tourism are relatively virgin
territories in India and need to be exploited. "Despite the enormous
potential, due to lack of adequate information and various misconceptions, these
areas have not been exploited," says Jain.

The different sections of adventureportal are expected to provide in-depth
information on various adventure activities like trekking, skiing, snowboarding,
river rafting, paragliding, mountain climbing, mountain biking, safari and water
sports. Besides, the portal is also expected to act as a platform between tour
operator and travelers.

To attract surfers to the site, the portal will also organize quiz contests
that would provide two vacations a week for the first year which amounts to 104
in a year at various camps in the form of prizes and gifts to the winners.
Cresco Technology managing director Manisha Jain says, "Travel will be the
largest category of products sold on the Internet this year and will account for
35 per cent online sales by 2002. This reflects the sustainability of the
Internet as a channel for the travel industry."