Twin Districts Celebrate World Tourism Day

Pics: Spoorthi Ullal/Nikhil Studio/Hemanath Padubidri
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore (SR/RD/SB)

Mangalore/Udupi, Sep 27: The passengers were in a for a surprise when they received a floral welcome at the city airport, Bajpe and KSRTC bus stand, Bejai. The gesture was planned as part of World Tourism Day by the Mangalore Association of Travel Agents in association with the department of tourism here on Monday September 27.

In a specially organized programme, all the air passengers who landed at Mangalore Airport on Monday were welcomed with flowers and greetings. Higher education minister V S Acharya and Moodbidri MLA Abhaychandra Jain extended a floral welcome to the passengers of Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airline flight that landed at Mangalore Airport at around 8:30 am.

Abhaychandra Jain formally inaugurated the programme. Later, Jain and Acharya flew to Bangalore through a special flight. Airport director M R Vasudev, general manager of Hotel Gold Finch S M Das, Pilikula Nisargadhama executive director J R Lobo, Louis Pinto and Roshan Pinto were among those present.

A similar programme that was held at the KSRTC bus stand, Bejai was inaugurated by Pilikula Nisargadhama executive director J R Lobo.

Meanwhile, World Tourism Day was observed by department of tourism, Dakshina Kannada district at Town Hall here  on Monday September 27.

Inaugurating the programme, B Nagraj Shetty, chairman of Coastal Development Authority said that that the beaches in Kerala and Goa are attracting tourists from all over the world, while the beaches here as pristine has failed to attract that many tourists. However, things are looking up with present government making the tourism development in the city a reality with giving a needed push for projects hanging bridge, spiritual tourism and cultural tourism. Attractive tourism packages such as tour to Lakshadweep on the ship are also arranged by the end of next month to boost regional tourism.

Speakig on the occasion, deputy commissioner V Ponnuraj said said that people in Kodagu are constructing resorts in their lands and rooms in the houses for the tourists to come and stay which is creating employment. In the similar manner, Mogaveeras will be educated on certain tourism ideas to increase tourism and enhance employment opportunities in the district.

Mangalore south MLA N Yogish Bhat said that 150 acres on the riverside are reserved as tourist spot. While 250 crores will be invested on marine aquarium and rope bridge, which will be constructed from Sultan Battery to Tannirbavi. The financial assistance of Rs 400 crore will be sought soon for the development of tourism.

Later, speaking to presspersons, Lakshadweep co-ordinator Rasheed said that the ship proposed to travel from the region to Lakshadweep will take 12 hours of travel time. The service will be available for 21 days in a year.

Yathish Baikampady welcomed the gathering while Banavasi Somshaker proposed the vote of thanks.

Dakshina Kannada Zilla panchayath president Santhosh Kumar Bhandary, Mangalore
association of travel agency (MATA) secretary Vijayendra and MATA president B Roshan
Pinto among others were present.

Tourism Day Celebration in Udupi

World Tourism Day was celebrated under the aegis of district administration, tourism department, Kudremukh Wildlife Division and MGM College at the Ravindra Mantap of the college here on Monday September 27.

Additional commissioner T M Prabhakar inaugurated the celebrations.

Speaking on the occasion, A C Prabhakar said that the tourism is not limited to temples and beaches, instead studies should be made on the importance of those tourism spots by the tourism department and promote them as hotspots of tourism, he said

He urged the tourism department to identify other tourism destinations across the state since the state administration has been providing funds for tourism development.

State Wildlife Board member Dr N A Madhyasta delivered a talk on tourism and biodiversity on the occasion.

Dr Madhyasta said that the tourism potential of the state are not been fully explored so as to set up a tourism industry. There are ample scope for tourism development, but what is regretful is that the natural resources in the world are exploited without any regard for bio species. 

The tourism study lies in the infancy stage. If the biodiversity in Western Ghats have remained intact, it’s because they are left undisturbed by humans. The biodiversity in the Western Ghats come alive especially during monsoon season, with many waterfalls and bounty of wild animals, said Dr Madhyasta.

Dr Madhyasta observed that nearly 70 to 75 species of butterflies exist in the district, while 500 varieties of birds are found in Western Ghats. Nearly forty varieties of migratory bird come flocking to ghats annually. In all 50 per cent of frogs are on the verge of extinction, owing to which the dengue fever and chikungunya are infected among the coastal residents, he said.

Tourism that takes care of biodiversity and eco-environmental conservation is the need of the hour. The undivided Dakshina Kannada district has lone bird’s sanctuary at Malady, near Tekkatte, here. In all 40 to 50 varieties of birds arrive annually besides 15 varieties of migratory birds. However, its lack of information on tourism potential of these locations that the district remains backward in tourism growth, stressed Dr Madhyasta.

MGM College principal Dr P Venkataramana Gowda presided. MGM Pre-University College principal professor Soumyalata was also present.

Karkala wildlife division deputy forest conservator Prakash S Netalkar welcomed the gathering. Tourism promotor Ramachandra proposed the vote of thanks. Lecturer Kokkarne Surendranath Shetty compered the programme.