Tourism in Mysore set to get facelift

Managing Director, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) Vinay Luthra on Thursday said of the total ` 39 crore sanctioned for developing heritage core area around Palace including Town Hall, ` 10 crore has been released. For the development of Kukkarahalli lake alone ` 140 lakh has been released followed by ` 150 lakh for the expansion of Hotel Mayura Hoysala, ` 30 lakh for tourist infrastructure facilities at Chunchanakatte and Arkeshwara temple in K R Nagar taluk, ` 10 lakh for Chamarajendra Golf Course, ` 70.20 lakh in the form of subsidy to 39 SC/ ST beneficiaries for purchase of tourist taxi and Rs one lakh for training guides. For the year 2010-11, as many as 255 applications have been received for 50 pc subsidy under the taxi scheme.
Among them 30 belonging to SC and 15 ST will be entitled to avail the benefit. Luthra said despite recession, tourism in Mysore has not seen any low and it was evident with 12 per cent growth in domestic tourists, in the first nine months when compared to the previous year and 20 per cent in the case of foreign tourists.

On the chartered flights operated by Kingfisher connecting tourist spots in association with KSTDC  during Dasara, Luthra said the service being offered at the highly subsidised rates evoked good response with the flights connecting Mysore from Chennai and Hyderabad too this year, apart from Bangalore. In the previous year it was only between Mysore and Bangalore. As a result, from Bangalore to Mysore alone the occupancy rate was 18 pc and from Hyderabad and Chennai it was 70 pc. Talks are on with Kingfisher Airlines to continue with the service once in a week or fortnight, he added.

Divisional railway manager, SWR, B B Verma said, they have proposed to offer train services from Mysore- Hampi . Now, there is a train between Bangalore and Hampi. The other proposal includes Shimoga-Mysore inter-city train and it is expected to become a reality soon, he added.

Earlier, Luthra inaugurated the Tourists Facilitation Centre (TFC)  at the platform number one of the railway station. Tourists on their arrival at the station, can obtain information pertaining to tourist spots across the State, hotels, modes of transport, besides booking the rooms and cottages in KSTDC owned hotels and resorts through online.

Verma exuded confidence that the new facility will be a boon for tourists. BSNL authorities have also come forward to open a facilitation centre.