Karnataka on show at Dubai

The department of tourism, government of Karnataka played the host state at the India pavilion at the Dubai Shopping Festival (DSF) this year. India's pavilion, spread over 1.3 lakh square feet, was the largest one at the DSF this year.

This year the DSF had completed a decade. The key objective of the initiative was to showcase the tourism potential of Karnataka and what the state had to offer the international tourist. From January 8 to March 31 Karnataka was on show to shoppers at the Dubai Shopping Festival.

"The main purpose of participating in the Dubai Shopping Festival was to provide a platform for the handicrafts industry of Karnataka to promote their expertise in the world's largest consumer fair," said Mahendra Jain, Karnataka tourism commissioner.

A replica of the Mysore Palace, which was about 100 metre long, adorned the façade of the India pavilion for the festival.

It created an explosion of lighting in the evenings recreating the Dussera festivities. A larger than life replica of the Hampi stone chariot too captured attention.

Visitors were also treated to other archaeological sites from Karnataka.

"Tourism is the key to the development of any region and we in the Department of Tourism realised this. West Asia is a key market for us, hence showcasing of the state's rich archaeological history and tourist destinations is imperative," said Jain.