From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jun 15: The Tourism Policy of Karnataka is being framed to attract more investment as the State is ideally suitable for tourism development, announced Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar in Bengaluru on Saturday.
He was addressing the Dakshin Bharat Utsav 2024 being jointly organised by the State Tourism Department and the Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) at the Bengaluru Palace Grounds.
Shivakumar said the Tourism Policy will be tailored to attract investment as development of industries strengthens the government with more revenue and helps in creation of jobs.
“Karnataka is blessed with long and verdant coastline of over 300 kms,” he said asking the representatives from the Southern States of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry to give their valuable suggestions for developing sea and river tourism.
He suggested that Bengaluru should be developed to attract more tourists and pointed out that in the past Cubbon Park and Lalbagh used to be tourist attractions in the past. But the younger generation needs more excitement and better attractions.
Skydeck for Bengaluru
“The State Government is planning to create skydeck and tenders for the project would be invited shortly,” he said.
The Brindavan Garden is being developed on the lines of Disneyland and budget allocation for the project is being made, he said.
With the development of Bengaluru as IT/BT capital and knowledge capital, he said steps are being taken to improve the facilities including uninterrupted supply of drinking water, better roads and decongestion of traffic and other infrastructure facilities under the Brand Bengaluru concept.
He, however, lamented that the high GST of 18% on tourism industry was 'killing' as bank interests and other taxes and cesses were discouraging industrialists to invest in the tourism sector. The Southern States, which have huge potential for diverse tourism development must fight unitedly to solve the common problems.
“Mere subsidies will not help the investors,” he said and suggested that the hotel industry must be given tax concessions especially in the coastal region and also for establishing resorts. Tax rebate of 10 years from property tax for the hotels in the coastal region would go a big way, he said.
Rs 3750 cr investment for Tourism: HK Patil
Karnataka’s Tourism and Law Minister H K Patil said the Dakshin Bharat Utsav 2024 has helped in attracting Rs 3750 crore investment.
He said 40 ideal tourist spots have been identified along the 320 kms long coastline in the State and tenders for expression of interest have already been issued.
Karnataka has a huge potential for heritage tourism as the State has over 25,000 historic and heritage sites of which barely 500 sites have been developed. There is need for concerted action with time-bound action plan, he said mentioning that the government was open to adoption of the historic and heritage sites by entrepreneurs and philanthropists. Adventure tourism was another attractive idea for the adoption as it would involve local communities, especially the youth, he said.