Udupi: The Minister for Tourism and Higher Education R V Deshpande said that ‘Tourism policy’ for the state will be announced in a week.
While on a visit to the district, the minister said on Wednesday, that many tourism development schemes and road connecting projects will be done on priority for the development of villages. Tourism Trade Facilitation Act will be followed, which gives importance to, tourist safety and licensed and uniformed guides. The policy is pending for cabinet approval.
Our country needs to highlight tourism with prioritizing safety, cleanliness and security. In countries like Cambodia, Singapore and Dubai, the tourism sector contributes 15 % of GDP, but in India it is just 6.1%.
“Tourism should be considered as better employment sector for the unskilled local people. The details of the guide would be made available from the website so that tourists could access details from anywhere in the country. The guides would be given training to learn foreign languages like Russian, Chinese and French”
He added that to develop tourism, facilities are more important like power, toilet, water and systematic hotels facilities. Like government the private local investors should come up to contribute for the development of local tourism spots. Government has spent nearly Rs 200 crore in the past two years to develop connective roads.
As a part of development of tourism he inaugurated the Tenkanidiyur-Hampanakatte Road at Tenkanidiyur at the cost of Rs 90 lakh. He also laid the foundation stone for future roads -Tenkanidiyur-Malpe Road and Nalkur-Jomlu Tirtha Road.
Education
To improve the educational sector, he said distance education classes through tele-education has already been introduced in Gulbarga, gradually it will be introduced in other districts. Education through satellites and smart classes, virtual classes are being promoted. The government is trying maximum to blend education with best technology, he added.
Concerning the shortage of staffs, 2,12,000 guest lecturers had been selected online to have a fair selection based on merit. The CET document verification would be introduced online from the next academic year and the process is under progress.
While answering query of media on whether D K Ravi’s suspicious death is a Honey trap, the Minister for Tourism and Higher Education R V Deshpande said “the case is handed over to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI ) and enquiry is on, let’s wait till the report comes, this is not the right time to comment on the same”.
Universities and educational institutions have been directed to install CCTV cameras and beef up security measures to control rising atrocities and other crimes.
