To encourage investment in the tourism sector, the Tourism Department in its draft tourism policy has proposed a speedy conversion of land acquired for tourism projects to non-agricultural land, including waiving off conversion fees.
The department has planned a number of other initiatives to promote investment in the tourism sector.
For the first time, the department will hold an exclusive tourism investors’ meet to present the opportunities and potential of investing in properties in tourism destinations across the State at ‘Momentum Karnataka-Tourism Investors Meet’ on February 14.
For those investing in the tourism sector, the tourism department will help obtain clearances in six months time, according to the Tourism Secretary I M Vittalamurthy.
A Project Monitoring Unit will do a matching of lands available and interest recorded by investors. The government has formed a single point resource to guide tourism investors through Udyog Mitra, IDEK and Karnataka Tourism.
“Our focus is on heritage tourism, eco-tourism and coastal tourism, of which Heritage Tourism will be a top priority,” said Mr Vittalamurthy.
He said tourism zones have been classified, and incentives and benefits have been proposed for the development of priority zones in the draft policy.
The draft policy also mentions that Karnataka Tourism will work with BBMP to promote it as a grand tourist destination.
The policy proposes that all government bodies that have their incomes generated from Bangalore will have to set aside 10 per cent of their operating profits on city beautification projects.
Exhibition complex
Private players in collaboration with international exhibition companies will be encouraged to set up three world class exhibition complexes on the outskirts of Bangalore and Mysore with support from the government.
Three to five convention complexes will also be promoted to be set up through a similar manner.
Three to five theme and entertainment parks on the outskirts of Bangalore, Mysore and in Zone 3 will be
promoted.
