Date:16/02/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/02/16/stories/2008021654010500.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Ecotourism to look out for newer areas

Staff Reporter

Investors being wooed to invest in revenue wooded lands
Inspection bungalows may be thrown open
for tourists

BANGALORE: Conservationists, worried about overexploitation of the last few patches of protected forests in the name of ecotourism, can heave a sigh of relief.

For, new and unexplored regions away from the protected areas are being offered in the State.

Investors are now being wooed to invest in revenue wooded lands available in Kodagu, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, Udupi and Mangalore; coffee estates in Coorg, Hassan and Chikmagalur; tea estates in Hassan and Chikmagalur; Inam lands in Dharwad, Hubli, Uttar Kannada and Belguam, and agriculture and horticulture farms tourism, especially in mango and grapes orchards.

Offering a bird’s eye-view on the investment potential in eco-tourism segment in the State, Special Officer. Tourism Development. Sanjay Bijjur said that several initiatives such as jungle camps and trails and Great Western Ghats Trails will be launched in the State, which could be utilised by entrepreneurs by investing on tourism infrastructure.

He was speaking on eco-tourism during Momentum Karnataka, tourism investors meet here on Thursday.

The Tourism Department is also looking at providing access to the inspection bungalows and departmental guest houses located close to tourist destinations in the State. Tourism Secretary I.M. Vittalamurthy said that many British bungalows were with the Forest Department and a large number of inspection bungalows were managed by the Irrigation Department close to the reservoirs besides Public Works Department and KPCL also own such bungalows.