Karnataka govt to roll out coastal tourism policy, set up dedicated board

Tourism Minister H.K. Patil said over 40 sites along Karnataka’s 380-km coastline have been identified for new tourist accommodations, as the state looks to boost coastal tourism with a new policy and board.

Bengaluru: The state government is drafting a new coastal tourism policy and setting up a dedicated Coastal Tourism Board to boost development and investment in Karnataka’s coastline, Tourism and Law Minister H.K. Patil announced on Thursday.

Speaking at the 55th Annual Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) convention, Patil urged hoteliers to invest in coastal projects through hotels and resorts.

“For the development of the coastline, the state government has identified more than 40 locations to set up tourist accommodations along Karnataka’s 380-km stretch, as there is currently a lack of facilities,” he said.

The tourism department has already held preliminary meetings, and Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar and Patil are expected to travel to Mangaluru in the coming weeks for further discussions.

Patil also said that major development works were underway at Anjanadri Hills and Savadatti Yellamma Gudda to enhance visitor experience.

To diversify stay options, the government is also looking to revise its homestay policy to allow more homeowners to host tourists through bed-and-breakfast facilities, particularly in areas where large resorts are not feasible.

FHRAI president K. Syama Raju urged the government to recognise all hotels, not just star-rated ones, as industries, and called for a new convention centre with a capacity of at least 1,500.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, Deputy CM D.K. Shivakumar, Industries Minister M.B. Patil, and Prestige Group chairman Irfan Razak were also present at the event.