The Hindu Business Line : `Connect' to showcase efforts to promote tourism in Karnataka

THE tourism department has hit upon a concept of `land bank', which seeks to procure land through the Karnataka Industrial Infrastructure Development Board (KIADB) ideally suited for promoting tourism projects in different parts of the State, so as to allot them to prospective investors at a concessional rate.

This was one of the many measures the Government would be taking to boost infrastructure for tourism projects in the State, said the Minister for Tourism, Mr J. Alexander.

Addressing presspersons on the eve of the annual Connect conference, Mr Alexander said the State had witnessed 14 per cent annual growth in foreign tourists arrivals, which worked out to 2.4 lakh every year.

He said Connect, a conference highlighting the private-public partnership, had helped to a great extent in increasing the popularity of Karnataka among tourists from domestic and foreign centres. Arrival of domestic tourists was growing at 1.26 lakh per year.

To consolidate the growing popularity of the State among tourists, the Government plans to focus on improving infrastructure in the coming years. Connect will highlight on the new initiatives being planned by both the Government and private sector for promotion of tourism.

One of the important projects being considered was to bid for Formula One Car racing event in Karnataka, he said.

Among other things, the State Government is also planning to develop an exhibition-cum-convention hub near the proposed international airport at Devanahalli.

Efforts are on to develop an entertainment park on the lines of the Disneyland outside Bangalore or Mysore and expedite the projects to improve facilities for tourists at heritage and pilgrimage centres.

Also, there are plans to build ropeways to connect Nandi Hills, Chamundi Hills and Jog Falls, the Minister said.