Karnataka Tourism officials say the State's helicopter tourism project will be operational after September, once the monsoon is over.

The State Government has entered into a memorandum of understanding with Delhi-based OSS Air, who will be the tour operator.

The State tourism department will promote heritage centres such as Hampi, Badami, Aihole, Pattadakal and Bijapur for the heli tourism project.

The department saw Rs 248-crore budgetary allocation this year, and “we would only be providing the basic infrastructure. The demand-driven package will be decided by the operator,” Mr K. Vishwanatha Reddy, Director, Department of Tourism, told Business Line .

According to him, the department will provide only the basic infrastructure, including helipads, lounge, food court, and residence for pilots at these locations.

The base station at Hampi is still a work-in-progress, he said, adding that the department would be making use of steel maker Jindal Steel Works' private airstrip near Hospet for landing and parking facilities till the base station becomes operational.

The company is offering the facilities at a 50 per cent discount.

The focused approach for tourism, which saw the department participating across domestic and international tourism fairs, helped increase tourist arrivals in Karnataka, said Mr Reddy.

For 2009, tourist arrivals in Karnataka were 3.29 crore, which increased to 3.8 crore in 2010, he pointed out. This year, the focus of the department would be medical and wellness, culture and festivals, and beach tourism.

The tourism department is also in discussions with the Union Ministry of Tourism for cruise tourism, but the project “is yet to take shape”, added Mr Reddy.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW