Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (NR)
Pic: Dayanand Kukkaje
 
Mangalore, Feb 6: The 'Mangalorean Tourism Conclave 2008', a first-of-its-kind event to promote tourism in the district with its theme ’Vivid past to a vibrant future' was jointly organized by the State Tourism department, district administration and Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Tuesday February 5.  

Speaking on the seminar theme Tourism Department director Dr C Somashekar pointed out that no other State other than Karnataka can boast of an amazing range of tourism products in the form of heritage, wildlife, beaches, nature, pilgrim centres or cuisines. In view of all these advantages, he informed that the department had given Rs 1 crore to develop the traditional sport 'Kambala' as part of tourism.  

Somashekar informed that the tourism department will take several measures to connect people with natural resources (land) and with funds to promote viable projects in future. However, there is need for support from various departments, such as roads, taxes and the forest departments, he urged.

Further according to him tourists nowadays look out for something more than just another holiday, especially some unique experiences.  These days Bangalore and Mysore are getting overcrowded and therefore, the city has the potential to be the next best destination, he opined. With regard to a point on hordes of people now coming into the State he said that it was crucial to convert the captive audience to extend their pilgrimage tours into pleasure trips as well, but first improvements need to be done with regard to wayside amenities in many places even on highways, he added.

Also according to him earlier from minuscule amounts kept aside in budget allocations for the state to Rs 148 crore this year, the government too has taken up tourism sector seriously, and added that huge amounts are now being deployed for tourism infrastructure projects too.  There is vast potential for medical tourism in the district and with international connectivity and excellent medical facilities, the city has the potential to emerge as the second hub for ‘health and wellness tourism’ in Karnataka after Bangalore, he pointed out.  

On the occasion he announced some major initiatives of the government one being a Global Investors Meet to be held in Bangalore on Feb 14 for developing cruise tourism, a Rs 50 lac ayurvedic centre which has already started at Pilikula, other initiatives such as highway tourism, theme restaurants, homestays and setting up of three and two star hotels, tourism clubs in colleges to cultivate interest in tourism among students. 

He also invited those owning good piece of land near major tourist destinations, to come and discuss with the Department of Tourism plans on leasing or selling their lands for investment in tourism projects, in-fact in this context he appealed to investors to come forward and invest in tourism promotion activities.

Chairman of Corporation Bank B Sambamurthy after inaugurating the conclave declared that there is a huge gap between potential and performance with regard to tourism promotion. Stressing the need for brand building, Sambamurthy said that unless brand building is taken-up seriously, conversion of potential into performance is difficult. He said that tourism was the only sector where the consumer came to the product, hence suggested that brand building, public private partnership and inter-net should be used effectively to convert potential into reality.
 
Another speaker Kanara Chamber president Kumble Narasimha Prabhu lamented the fact that roads, Coastal Zone Regulations (CZR) and lack of single window clearance for tourism industry were the biggest were hampering tourism activities in the district. Deputy commissioner M Maheshwar Rao released a tourism booklet.  Zilla Panchayat president K P Sucharitha Shetty presided over the conclave.