World Tourism Day gift; new policy

Minister hints at aggressive steps to project state as tourism hub

State tourism department is coming out with a policy on the occasion of World Tourism Day on September 27, promising to be a channel for activities connected with the realm.

This was announced by the minister for tourism Anand Singh here on Wednesday.
Addressing hoteliers, travel operators and other stakeholders of tourism in the city of palaces, the minister said there are many more adventurous activities in the pipeline with those involved in the job evincing interest. What’s hindering them is the permission involving many departments.

Citing an example, the minister said if anybody wants to conduct aquatic sports, a question arises. Whether they have to take permission from the forest department or irrigation department? Similarly, many more activities like that of bungee jumping, home stay and others can be encouraged with flexible measures, the minister added.

He opined that aggressive steps have to be taken to promote places of tourist interests.
On improving tourism, the minister said that creation of secured atmosphere for tourists would also go a long way in the development of tourism sector.

The minister, this time came out with examples of Singapore and Dubai, a concrete city without any green. In those foreign nations, the government acts stern against those who trouble tourists.

He announced to try to interact with those involved in tourism in the city at least once in a month.

And, promised to release the department’s share of Rs 14 lakh towards ‘Mytri’ a tourist-friendly programme involving select 100 autorickshaw drivers.

Earlier, district in-charge minister S A Ramdas reiterated that Mysore may be back on air map with a meeting scheduled with three flight operators on September 29 in Bangalore arriving at a consensus. He said Spicejet was ready and the government has agreed to some of its demands.

The existing yoga centres in the state will be linked under Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), the minister said.