The Karnataka Tourism Trade (facilitation and regulation) Bill was moved in the State Assembly on Friday by the State Minister for Tourism and Education RV Deshpande.

The Minister said the Bill was aimed at facilitating, regulating and promoting the tourism trade; the constitution of the State Tourism Council; registration recognition and grading of tourism trade in the tourist destination; licensing of tour guides.

The Bill also provides for raising a ‘tourist mitra’ cadre to ensure the safety of the tourists; prohibition of certain activities in tourist destinations; protection and maintenance of tourist destinations; collection of statistical information from service providers and establishment of database on tourism.

Tourism Council Deshpande said the Bill provides for constitution of a Tourism Council with the Chief Minister as Chairperson and Tourism Minister as Vice-Chairperson, about nine officers from various government departments and six members nominated from among stakeholders in the tourism trade.

Deshpande said the proposed Council would act as an apex body for the development and promotion of tourism in the State.

Public private sector partnership (PPP) and formation of joint venture is also being encouraged. Government tourist entities will engage with private sector under the PPP framework or joint venture arrangements to bring private sector investments in developing, promoting, operating and maintaining tourism infrastructure in the State.

Grading of destinations The Bill provides for registration, recognition and grading of tourist destinations. This is for providing a minimum standard and norms for the trade and also provide for charging of annual or periodical fees for registration, recognition, renewal and grading. To issue and display of certificates of registration to indicate genuine tourist trade. This is also to provide for getting incentives available for registered or graded tourism trade.

Tourist Mitra The Bill also provides for tour guides licence to be issued by the prescribed authority to the tour guides in accordance with the procedure set out in the rules made by the act.

A group of specially trained cadre known as tourist mitra will be raised by the Department of Tourism to be deployed at various tourist destinations.

Tourism database The Bill provides for collection of statistical information from service providers and also establish a database on State tourism. The Tourism department will make the data available to trade and public.

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