RV Deshpande: New tourism policy has evoked encouraging response

With the 38th edition of Pacific Asia Travel Association Travel Mart (PATA) conference set to begin in Bengaluru on Monday, Karnataka Tourism and Industries Minister RV Deshpande spoke to BusinessLine on the State’s initiatives to boost tourism trade.

How do you plan to involve the private sector in tourism?

Karnataka has recently come out with its new tourism policy. It spells out as to how private sector can get involved by partnering with the State in creating infrastructure, promotion and maintenance of tourist destinations. We have also formed an infrastructure corporation, where we can take up projects on public-private partnership basis.

Through this corporation we plan to create clusters on the lines of industrial estates in tourist destinations such as Mysuru, Hampi and Bijapur by providing power, water, infrastructure facilities all under one roof. So, ultimately investments have to come from private sector only apart from that government has no business to be in business.

How are you planning to raise resources to fund tourism ventures?

To raise funds, we have recently floated a company, Karnataka Tourism Infrastructure Ltd. The company is fully owned by the State government. The corporation will raise funds from the open market to create tourism assets.

How many tourism products has Karnataka rolled out?

So far, the State tourism department has rolled out 18 products. The tourism policy clearly spells out the products. They include rural tourism, weekend tourism, wellness & holistic health tourism, marine/coastal tourism and heritage zones and clusters. The response to the new tourism policy has been very encouraging and many have come forward with project proposals.

How has the corporates responded to the destination adoption proposals?

We have so far has signed six MoUs with corporates such as the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce for Lalbagh, Jindal Foundation for Bengaluru Museum, Sandur Manganese and Iron Ores Private Limited for Ranganathittu, Tasveer Foundation for Venkatappa Art Gallery, West Coast Papers Mills Limited for Kavala Caves and Coffee Day Enterprises for Belur and Halebidu.

I think more and more will come forward in due course. Since I am holding both industry and tourism portfolios, I expect the response to be good and the corporates to spend their CSR funds on destinations, making them safer and cleaner.

What have you planned to make tourists spend in dollars in the State?

For this, we need to start more activities. We need to involve tourists in local activities. To be honest, Bengaluru still is not a destination for tourism. Maybe a large number of people come here for IT/BT-related work. The city is still to be developed as a tourist destination and we are trying to do it.

We are planning to have weekend activities by diverting traffic from a few roads for cultural activities such as painting, dance, cycling etc. They can be held in and around Cubbon Park on the lines of Chitra Santhe.

To make Bengaluru a destination, we have floated a tender for a MICE project near the international airport.

How have you planned to enhance availability of gifts/souvenir in the State?

Yes, as far gifts and artefacts are concerned, it is still the monopoly of the State-owned Cauvery Handicrafts. Karnataka is planning to showcase its traditional marvels such as Channapatna toys, Mysore sandalwood and inlays works.

Also we are encouraging Bidiari artisans from Bidar and Navalgund Dhari weavers from Dharwad/Gadag region. We plan to create a base to help them market their products by providing them publicity.

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