Southern tourist circuit top weekend draw

Karnataka's southern tourist circuit comprising areas in Mysore, Kabini and Srirangapattana and the coastal circuit comprising the beaches of Mangalore, Udupi and Karwar are the destinations favoured by Bangalore's executives.

According to a survey conducted by the Bangalore-based Leisure and Lifestyle Information Services, publishers of the India Resorts Survey (IReS), for Karnataka's tourism department, the southern tourist circuit is the most popular destination due to its proximity to the city. It has been serving as a quick weekend or short break getaway.

Karnataka's tourism department commissioned the survey to identify new weekend destinations and availability of general infrastructure.

According to an IReS source, the survey was conducted among 1,000 Bangalore-based mid to senior level executives, from IT and non-IT professions, who spend between Rs 1,500-Rs 5,000 per day on weekend gateways.

IReS has been providing detailed hotel and resort information to travellers through its portals based on ratings by travellers registered with the portals. The rating system has been devised by Pricewaterhouse Coopers which regularly reviews the ratings.

The survey revealed that at present weekend destinations are selected through word-of-mouth recommendations and many circuits lack even the basic infrastructure, information or literature on destinations.

The southern tourist circuit topped the survey with about 90 per cent of the respondents having been there already.

The second most popular destination, visited by 74 per cent, is the coastal circuit visited mainly for its beaches. The second southern circuit, comprising Shivanasamudram, Mandya, B R Hills and M M Hills, is not very popular for a short break from Bangalore. While 55 per cent of the respondents had been there, 22 per cent said they would like to have more information before making a choice the next time around. Next comes the Malnad circuit comprising Jog Falls, Agumbe, Kallatgeri and Hebbe Falls.

Close to 50 per cent of the respondents are yet to explore the areas.

Thus, more information and promotion are needed and infrastructure is again a concern with those having visited the area rating it as poor.

The Maidan circuit comprising Hampi, Mahakoota and Pattadakal, comes next with only 33 per cent of the respondents having been to these places earlier.

There is an acute lack of information on these places and hence it has seen low interest among tourists.

The Madikeri circuit comprising Nisargadhama, Abbe falls and Bagamandala is quite popular even though improvement in infrastructure will boost its fortunes.

The Bijapur circuit, comprising Asar Mahal and Bidar Fort, also fares poorly with only 23 per cent of the respondents having visited the areas. This |circuit also suffers from lack of information and promotion.