RAJKOT: Bangkok and Pattaya in Thailand were the favourite destinations for incentive tours organized by companies for senior staff and agents. But the Thai cities have over the years become associated with seedy pleasures of night life and massage parlours. So some firms have homed in on new destinations with the same inclusions as offered by Thailand, but without negative associations.These destinations are cities in the former Soviet Union countries in Central Asia , including Bishkek , capital of Kyrgyzstan; and Tashkent capital of Uzbekistan . Azerbaijan too is emerging as a tourism hotspot for these companies, which span sectors such as ceramics, cement, plywood, and pharma.Pratik Zinzuwadia, the international travel coordinator in Rajkot, said: “In countries such as Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan, travellers can enjoy all the facilities available in Bangkok, but without the nuisance encountered in Thailand.” Soni went on to say: “Moreover, in these countries, the clubs are good and the hotels are cheap. Because these countries formed after 1992, they want to develop tourism.”According to tour operators, these destinations have been promoted for the past year. The sense of being in Europe is another draw. The cost of a tour to Central Asia is not much higher than the cost of a trip to Bangkok. A four-day trip to Bangkok, on an average, costs about Rs 50,000 per person. A trip to a Central Asian country will cost about Rs 60,000 per person. Companies generally organize tours between July and September.Manish Sharma, who operates international tours in Ahmedabad, said: “Various corporate houses organize incentive tours in which employees are treated to night life, freedom, dance, and entertainment.” He said some people now prefer Bishkek and Tashkent because the image of Pattaya is tarnished.According to tour operators, every year nearly 90,000 people go overseas on corporate tours from Gujarat . “Nearly 40-50% of people have now moved their allegiance to former Soviet Union countries because of their beautiful sites and weather,” Soni said. Distance too plays a part. For instance, a flight to Tashkent from Delhi takes just three hours.Jayesh Vankani, senior manager of a Rajkot-based plywood company said, “Earler, we used to arrange corporate tours at Bangkok. We started searching for new destinations this year. Last month, we sent the employees to Azerbaija

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