Pics: Nayana J C

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangaluru

Mangaluru, Sep 7: State minister for energy and tourism K J George visited the renowned St Lawrence Shrine in Dakshina Kannada on Monday and offered prayers. The shrine’s parish priest, Fr Basil Vas, welcomed the minister and offered blessings. Praising the communal harmony nurtured by the shrine and its surrounding locality, the minister commended the leadership of the shrine committee.

Addressing reporters later, he said, “The coastal region is renowned for religious tourism. From the Kollur Mookambika Temple to Dharmasthala, Subrahmanya, the Ullal Dargah, and Bondel Church, the coast is home to numerous world-famous temples, mosques, and churches. Within their respective religious frameworks, the administrations of these centres are rolling out various development initiatives. The tourism department remains steadfastly committed to supporting these projects by providing the necessary infrastructure and other essential amenities. As religious tourism thrives, the coastal belt is poised to witness remarkable growth across other tourism sectors as well.”

District Congress president Harish Kumar, former MLA J R Lobo, assistant parish priest Fr Lawrence Cutinha, parish pastoral council vice president John D'Silva, Ronald Nazareth, and others were present during the minister’s visit.