Karnataka to spend Rs 100 cr on tourism devt

The Karnataka government is ready to increase the budgetary allocation to the tourism sector from the present Rs 50 crore to Rs 100 crore. This amount is to create the necessary infrastructure at all the tourism destinations in the state, deputy chief minister B S Yediyurappa said.

Inaugurating 'Connect 2006' "" a meeting of public and private partners "" organised by the state tourism department, he said, "We are committed to putting Karnataka on the world tourism map."

In keeping with President A P J Abdul Kalam's vision for Karnataka on its 50th anniversary, in which he had stated that tourism was one of the 11 prominent sectors for progress in the state, Yediyurappa said, efforts will be made to showcase Karnataka's cultural heritage to the world.

"The tourism infrastructure will be upgraded and bring in greater air and rail connectivity for the convenience of tourists. We also propose to start a course in tourism in degree colleges and universities to bring in greater awareness on the subject and generate more employment opportunities in the industry," he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Karnataka minister of state for tourism and textiles B Sreeramulu said that the department of tourism is committed to completing all the pending projects. These include building new hotels at major tourist locations and long pending 'palace on wheels'.

With a three-fold rise in budget for the tourism sector, he said the total funds available for taking up various projects this year has gone up to Rs 66 crore, of which Rs 16 crore is sanctioned by the Centre.

Sreeramulu said that he has had discussions with the state transport department to come out with an innovative bus pass for travellers. This will have a validity of three months and anybody can travel to different tourism locations using the pass during its period of validity. The details of the scheme are being worked out, he said.

Unveiling the plan of action for the next few years for the development of tourism in the state, L Shanthakumari, principal secretary, department of information, tourism and youth services, said that emphasis will be given to the new challenges the industry confronted and the plans to meet them.

Some of the new projects include mine tourism at Kolar Gold Fields; international convention centre at Devanahalli at the cost of Rs 16 crore and luxury tourist train at a cost of Rs 32 crore, she said.

"We have acquired 30 acres for the convention centre. Hotels will be built at Hampi with private participation," she said.

The private sector participants listed out the roadblocks in developing tourism in the state. Shantakumari said that the other challenges include strengthening public-private partnership, upgrading tourism-related infrastructure, clearance of projects by single window agency, improving air and road connectivity.

In addition to the relaxations in the taxation policies like exemption of entry tax and power and water subsidy for hotels are also need to implemented.

She said that the department has developed eight circuits covering 98 tourist destinations.

They are Belgaum (11 destinations), Madikeri (11), Malnad (19), Bijapur (17), Maidan (12), Southern I (7) and II (6), and Coastal (15).