Mangaluru: Speaking at the Connect-2021, an interactive session organised by the Karnataka Tourism Society, on Friday, March 19, Pankaj Kumar Pandey, secretary of the department of tourism, Government of Karnataka, said that in the state, as the areas on the coast fall under 320 km, there is an ample opportunity for tourism in the coastal region.
He said that the tourism department’s new policy for the year 2020-25 is expected to attract 5,000 investors, and generate over 10 lac jobs. He stated that in the upcoming days, the department is planning to hold investors meet for developing tourism in the state.
“The key strategic pillars for Karnataka Tourism Policy are tourism marketing and promotion, development of tourism infrastructure, tourism products, skill development and training, focus on tourist comfort and safety, community participation, focus on sustainable tourism, tourism analytics and digital initiatives and investment facilitation,” he said.
“As cruise ships from Maharashtra and Goa come to NMPT, the department is planning to launch seaplanes and aerodromes to promote ‘Heli Tourism’, and we are working on it,” Pandey said.
Deputy commissioner of Udupi, G Jagadeesha, stated that even though there is major scope for tourism in the coastal Karnataka, somewhere we have failed to tap the opportunity. “Hence, taking the stakeholders into consideration, the district administration chalked out a plan with a vision of 10 years,” he said.
“There is a huge scope to convert the Pilikula Biological Park into a national park after bringing animals like giraffe, zebra, and Rynosures. The administration is working on a coffee table book and video about the tourism spots in the district by displaying at airports and other places to promote tourism,” said Dr Rajendra KV, deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada.
On this occasion, the tourism logo for Dakshina Kannada was released.
Director of tourism, Kumar Pushkar, V Karikalan, deputy conservator of forests, Manu, secretary KTS and others were also present.
