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Karnataka Tourism to focus on improving infrastructure in 2008

Eco tourism and heritage tourism to be prime focus areas

Gayatri Vijaykumar - Bangalore

The prime focus for the department of tourism, Government of Karnataka for the current year 2008-2009 will be to attract more investments in order to create better facilities and improve connectivity at tourist destinations. Speaking to Express TravelWorld, I M Vittalamurthy, Secretary to Government, Kannada and Culture, Information and Tourism, Government of Karnataka said that the government would focus on providing infrastructure and improving connectivity. This would include setting up signage at focal points, improving roads and inviting private players to invest in accommodation facilities at destinations. In order to facilitate better connectivity, the Public Works Department has undertaken the development and improvement of state highways under the State Highway Improvement Project of Karnataka (KSHIP). According to Sudhir Krishna, IAS, principal secretary- PWD, Government of Karnataka, under KSHIPII, 3400 km of the state highway will be developed with assistance from the World Bank and the Asian Bank.

According to Vittalamurthy, the Government of Karnataka has allocated Rs 148 crore as the budget for developing and promoting tourism this year. This is thrice the amount that was allocated last year, which was just Rs 50 crore.

Approximately 50 percent of the budget will be allotted for sprucing up infrastructure and accommodation facilities in the state. Nearly 10-12 crore will be used for marketing initiatives. Apart from that, four crore would be allotted for promoting local festivals. Prime focus will be accorded to developing eco tourism and heritage tourism in the state. "Heritage and eco tourism can be developed as our USP. We already have two world heritage sites, namely Hampi and Pattadakkal. Historical sites like the Gol Gumbaz in Bijapur, Belur and Halebid deserve to be classified as world heritage sites too," said Vittalamurthy. He added that diverse flora and fauna in the state makes it an ideal location for nature lovers. "No other state has a public undertaking like the Jungle Lodges and Resorts running eco resorts. We would like to develop eco tourism in a manner that will bring the all-encompassing experience of nature to the tourist without affecting the local environment," explained Vittalamurthy. In addition to its marketing activities, Vittalamurthy said that the state would like to host a ‘Karnataka Travel Mart’ in September or October this year.