‘Mangalore Travel Mart’ Kick-starts – To Unleash Tourism Splendour
Pics: Savitha B R
Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (PS/VA)
Mangalore, Dec 2: ‘Mangalore Travel Mart 2010’, an exhibition organized by Mangalore Association of Travel Agents at Milagres Jubilee Hall, here was inaugurated by Alok Mohan, IGP Western Range on Thursday December 2.
Addressing the gathering, Alok said that the nature is very kind in the city which holds immense tourist potential, having been equipped with all the ingredients like diverse cultures, historic and modern temples and monuments, churches and mosques, beaches, rivers, sea, fishing activity and so on to become a successful tourist centre.
He compared Bababudan hill to Scotland’s picturesque scenes and said that it is only place in coastal Karnataka to have a hilly region closer to the sea belt with a just distance of hundred kilo meters.
He called upon people to make full use of this special feature which has not been utilized properly for various reasons, prominent among them being lack of co-ordination between different departments of the government and agencies.
Sanjay Shreevats, regional director, India Tourism, the guest of honor said that the exhibition is an opportunity for everyone to exchange their business ideas, generate and review their business contacts, find potential joint venture partners, get publicity and launch new packages, have face-to-face interactions in the city as well as the country, develop relationships, and joint ventures, in a supportive ambience to facilitate the beginning of a new era of a mutually beneficial business relationships.
He said that other states like Rajastan, Kerala and Goa have already understood the core of tourism sector and have acted accordingly. Thus now its Karnataka’s turn to explore the tourism business which is a third most source of income to the nation’s treasure, first being the jewelry, second being the textile.
He also said that classification of hotel by grading them with ratings will attract the tourists from other countries. He added that the detailed reports to the concerned body in state and central governments will be sent after the exhibition to boost tourism.
Lekshmi M Kumaran, DGM, CC & CSR, MRPL, the chief guest said that only tourism can lift the economic status and cause dynamism in the national economy. As the quality of hospitality is good in the country, ‘Mangalore Travel Mart 2010’, exhibition aims at showcasing the potential of the region towards stimulating travel, tourism, hospitality, leisure and other related industries, within the country, she added.
Yogish Bhat, MLA, Mangalore South Constituency, Roshan Pinto, president of the organization, A Sadananda Shetty, N D Tiwaria and Louis Pinto among others were present. The exhibition will continue till December 4.