Vision Group favours Rs 73K-cr booster dose for tourism

The Karnataka Tourism Vision Group headed by T V Mohandas Pai on Tuesday recommended investing Rs 73,000 crore in the next 10 years to make Karnataka the most sought-after tourist destination in the country.

In its report, submitted to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Tourism Minister R V Deshpande, it has suggested upgrading existing tourist infrastructure, creating new tourist assets through public private partnership and tapping the potential in adventure, medical and spiritual tourism in the State.

The roadmap envisages doubling tourist traffic and creating additional employment of 43 lakh over the next 10 years. The focus should be on extending engaging experiences for four distinct categories of tourists — national, regional, State and international, the report said.

It has suggested promoting Mysore as a major tourist attraction by providing better internal transport infrastructure connecting all tourist places and a cable car to Chamundi Hills, to enhance the tourist experience.

“It is necessary to have visitors stay overnight while visiting the city, for which entertainment options need to be created. Within the geographic region, Kodagu has considerable potential,” the report said.

Suggesting focus on coastal tourism, it has called for restoration of the old Mangalore town, development of tourist infrastructure at 41 beaches and 11 islands, liberalisation of bar licences and timings around beach areas to attract private investment for coastal tourism.

Noting that adventure tourism has huge potential for private investment, the report said that the State could participate in setting up an adventure sports academy.

There is a need for clarity on insurance liability. Integrative medicine, combining allopathic and alternative medicine along with wellness focus (yoga, ayurveda, spas), can attract tourists seeking treatment and rejuvenation, the report suggested.
Besides, the vision group has recommended setting up a State Tourism Council under the chairmanship of the chief minister to chalk out plans and monitor their implementation.