K'taka to open up beaches for private investment

The Karnataka tourism department is moving in the direction of Goa and Kerala by developing beach tourism. The department is in the process of opening up beaches in the state spread over 320 kms of coastline from Ullal in the south to Karwar in the north for private investment.

The department proposes to develop the virgin beaches of Karnataka to attract more tourists into the state, the minister of state for tourism and textiles B Sreeramulu said.

The department has identified eight locations along the coast, which have high potential to attract large number of tourists and increase tourism revenue. The Union ministry of tourism has released Rs 2.09 crore out of Rs 6.98 crore sanctioned for the state under the development of coastal circuit this year.

"We are planning to open up our beaches on the lines of Goa, where beaches are main attractions, to put the state on the world tourism map. Our aim is to connect the beaches in the state to Goan beaches as both the states are next to each other. We want to attract those tourists who come to Goa for holidaying to spend some time at our beaches as well," Sreeramulu told Business Standard.

The tourism department has identified Ullal, Mangalore, Udupi, Kollur, Honnavara, Murudeshwar, Kundapur and Gokarna for development during the current year. While seven of these places fall on the coastline, Kollur is away from the coast, but being a pilgrim centre (Goddess Mookambika's temple is situated here) it possesses enormous potential to attract tourists, the department officials said.

The tourism department has proposed to create all the necessary infrastructure at these places like construction of rest rooms, erection of signages, high mast lamps, sanitation, temporary toilets, jogging tracks, rafting, garden and lighting of the area, the minister said.

Sreeramulu said the department was planning to invite private firms to set up five-star hotels and resorts at these beaches. Already, the Casino group of hotels from Kerala has set up a 30-room luxury resort at Om beach near Gokarna in Uttara Kannada district, which was opened last week.

The department also plans to use a portion of the funds sought from the Central government for creating basic infrastructure at these beaches.

He said the department has initiated steps to build proper connecting roads to all the tourism destinations in the state. The public works department will build roads in association with respective Zilla Panchayats, in every district for which Rs 50 crore has been allocated in the state budget this year.