The Hindu : Tie-ups needed to improve tourism: CM

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Nov 07, 2002

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Tie-ups needed to improve tourism: CM

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE Nov. 6. The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, said today that the Tourism Department should go in for inter-State and foreign tie-ups to boost tourism. He was releasing Karnataka Traveller, brought out by the department, at his home office, "Krishna".

The Chief Minister pointed out that this year's Dasara festivities were affected by the Cauvery problem, the Nagappa kidnapping, and the blocking of the Bangalore-Mysore road. Tourism in the State was affected, he added.

Countries such as Malaysia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka had now become major tourist spots, and the State Tourism Department should tie up with them for packages. There could be collaborations with Goa and Maharashtra for common package tours, he said.

I.M. Vittalamurthy, Managing Director of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, and Tourism Commissioner, admitted that festivals such as Dasara and the Hampi Utsav had to be insulated from local problems.

This year's low-key Dasara had cost the State Rs. 60 crore in tourist revenues.The Centre had sanctioned Rs. 75 lakh to develop Kokkrebellur in Mandya under its Rural Tourism Development project, Mr. Vittalamurthy said. In Hampi, the KSTDC had acquired 12 acres of land to build a tourist reception complex. Work would begin soon.

Karnataka Traveller has more than 200 pages in 11 sections. It has a supplementary booklet on package tours.

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