The Hindu Business Line : New tourism policy on the anvil in Karnataka

A new tourism policy that promises to give a boost to promotion of newer destinations while strengthening infrastructure, launching a comprehensive tourism course and expediting the launch of the special luxury tourism train to connect heritage destinations are among the fresh initiatives from the Government to give an impetus to tourism in the State.

According to Mr I.M. Vittalamurthy, Secretary (Tourism, Information, Kannada and Culture), the steps are being taken as a result of increasing interest shown by foreign tourists in the State.

He said that Karnataka's participation in the recent World Travel Mart in London gave a good picture of international tourist interest in the State.

Speaking to newspersons on Friday, Mr Vittalamurthy said that the Government has constituted a 17-member Tourism Council under the Chairmanship of Chief Minister Mr H.D. Kumaraswamy to help formulate the new tourism policy before the current policy expires in March.

Deputy Chief Minister and Finance Minister Mr B.S. Yediyurappa and Ministers for Tourism and Forest and Environment and Principal Secretaries of various Departments relating to tourism will sit on the council.

The policy would give a fresh thrust to public-private partnership for developing tourism infrastructure, he said.

Mr Vittalamurthy also said that district administrators have been empowered to sanction up to Rs 1 crore as part of decentralisation of decisions to speed up work on infrastructure development such as communications linkage.

Mr G. Kumar Naik, Commissioner of the Tourism Department, said that the luxury Heritage Express would be operational by September and would travel through the heritage circuit of Mysore, Belur, Halebid, Sravanabelagola, Hampi, Badami, Aihole and Pattadakkal.

A joint venture between the Central and State Governments, the train is being developed by Integral Coach Factory at a cost of Rs 32 crore.

The Tourism Department will short-list the hospitality partner for the project, Mr Naik said, adding that several hotels have already submitted expressions of interest.

More Stories on : Tourism | Policy | Karnataka

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page