 "A vehicle from Tamil Nadu in flames after it was torched by pro-Kannada activists during a protest over Cauvery water row, in Bengaluru")
Priyank Kharge, the state tourism minister, is now desperately trying to revive tourism during the ten-day festival, when Mysuru normally gets most tourists in the year.
Since violence broke due to the Supreme court directive to release water from half empty reservoirs of river Cauvery, tourist arrivals has reduced by more than half.
Public transport corporations of Tamil Nadu and Karnataka have suspended service between both states; trucks have stopped passing through Karnataka to the southern neighbour and people movement have reduced. It has hurt business at restaurants at highways as well as hotel bookings in Mysuru.
So, Kharge says it is more important for the state to push tourism because the drought has hurt the livelihood of millions of people in Mysuru, Mandya and Bengaluru, the regions where Cauvery water is consumed.
"Our focus is interesting and affordable attractions for the tourist. We believe the initiatives we have launched will make it easier for the tourist and give them much more opportunity for them to explore and enjoy the festivities," said Kharge.
Hotels and resorts in and around Mysuru have slashed prices to encourage tourists after they saw massive cancellations as an aftermath of the violence.
Kharge says the state has planned over half a dozen initiatives to lure tourists to Mysuru and is running a campaign
On of the interesting and offbeat initiatives that the State government has planned for the coming week is 'Craziest leave application Contest'.
"We have this contest where anyone can take part and they just have to send us what according to them was the craziest reason they gave to apply for leave. We would then declare a winner for the contest," said Kharge.
Other than this the state also the organised the World Photography Contest. Where people who are attending the festivities can click pictures and submit to the contest. The state government recently conducted an hackathon and funded 8 startups working in the space of tourism a total of Rs 2 crore. This the government hopes will make stay and travel easier for tourist with the services offered by the startups. The helicopter Joy Ride that gives an aerial view of the city has also been revived after 6 years this year and the Karnataka State Tourism Devlopment Corporation has in a tie-up with taxi aggregator Ola to have exclusive tourism flight from Bengaluru to Mysuru at Rs 2000 per person. The department has also started Royal Routes. This Kharge says gives a much more in depth experience to the tourist.
He says unlike previous years where one palace was shown to tourist this year it will be 7 places with ancient importance that has been curated specially for tourist visiting during the festive season.
"These are the initiatives specifically done for Dasara but the department as a whole has made a lot of changes that gives convenience and make Karnatka more attractive for tourist," added Kharge.
