TravelGuru

JupiterResearch, a division of Jupitermedia Corporation (Nasdaq: JUPM), finds that the U.S. online travel market has experienced strong growth over the past year and forecasts that the market will reach $68 billion by the end of 2005, up from $57 billion last year, and grow to $104 billion in 2010.

Interestingly, India has tremendous potential in the online travel space. Indian railways, with their IRCTC site, killed the middle men and agents, who used to stand in the long queues outside the Railway Stations and book tickets for a fee. Today, the site averages about 6000 tickets a day (thats about 1.8 Lakh transactions a month!) and that's only 2% of all railway tickets booked... the potential is tremendous! I for the past couple of years have only used irctc to book my railway tickets to my home town in Tuticorin!!

Increasingly, Flights, Airlines, Cinema, hotel bookings are all going online! The Indian Consumer is gradually moving to a larger acceptance of online payment options which further drives growth.

TravelGuru - A new entrant into the Indian online travel space, is a nifty portal. The site was launched today and promises to give a "best fare" advantage to the price concious consumer. I met up with the Founder CEO, Ashwin Dhamera, a couple of days back. Very smart, young and hand's on entrepreneur. I wish him the very best! I did use the site, and will be booking my tickets for my yearly vacation through that, soon!!