Single smart card for entry to all tourist sites by year-end

The state tourism department is planning to introduce a smart card that can be used as a ticket at all tourist destinations across the state.

With this card, tourists need not stand in long queues to buy tickets to visit any tourist site. The department will roll out these cards across the state by the end of 2017.

“The single ticketing system can be used at all major tourist destinations identified by the department,’’ Naveen Raj Singh, secretary, tourism department, told DH.

Though the Centre is planning a similar initiative, Karnataka will be the first state to introduce it independently. “Talks with the state’s archaeological department are on to start it at heritage sites at the earliest. Talks are also being held with the Ministry of Culture for other sites. A lot of back-end work is being done like syncing QR codes and swipe machines to create a centralised system. We are also tying up with banks on this,” he said.

Singh said the smart card works like a debit card. “Tourists who buy the smart card can load money and just swipe it wherever they have to pay for entry or services. This also does away with the need to carry exact change and cash and standing in long queues,’’ he said.

The idea was mooted by the Karnataka Tourism Vision Group. It suggested that the card be dispensed to tourists at airports or at a central location, so that they can access them easily. The card should also be user-friendly, it said.

Details on home stays

The tourism department has started uploading data of home stays in Karnataka on its website. It has also started checking all registered and unregistered home stays in the state, starting with Kodagu and Chikkamagaluru. It has asked tourists to check details of home stays on its website before making bookings.