State Showcase

Cabinet pushes tourism in Karnataka

Karnataka is an enchanting land abound with scenic beauty and rich flora and fauna. It has pomp and pageantry of glorious traditions and marvels of modern engineering.

The State Cabinet, which has decided to bring tourist activities under the priority sector, has introduced a host of new plans including offering government land to entrepreneurs at 50 per cent of the market value to establish resorts and privatising the management of government guest houses.

The government will create infrastructure in tourist places to enable entrepreneurs to open resorts, hotels and amusement parks. One of the major attractions offered to entrepreneurs was to make available government land in all places barring Bangalore, at 50 per cent of the market value to open resorts/hotels and for carrying out tourist related activities.

The Tourism Department would be identifying this government land available. The government will forfeit the land if entrepreneurs fail to implement their plans within a stipulated time. The government would be offering four per cent tax concession for three years on aviation fuel to encourage domestic aviation and companies to operate flights to district headquarters in the state. The government will also be underwriting certain number of tickets so that the companies would have assured revenue.

It will use airstrips in Bidar, Belgaum, Hubli, Mangalore, Bellary and Harihar. The air strips in Mysore and Gulbarga will be strengthened. Airstrips will also be built in Bijapur, Raichur, Karwar, Shimoga and Gulbarga. Nandi Hills, Brindavan Gardens, Kemma-nagundi, Jog Falls, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal, Belur and Halebedu, Shravanabelagola, Bijapur, Hampi, Gokarna and Karwar as these are the major tourist spots.

The government will develop Bangalore as a tourist destination by promoting adventure sports, creating high-end accommodation and allowing private parties to manage tanks like Ulsoor, Sankey, Madiwala, Bellandur, etc.