The new tourism policy has set a target to raise Rs25,000 crore worth of investments over the next five years.
One state, many worlds: this is the recurrent theme in the Karnataka Tourism Policy 2009-14, which was unveiled here on Wednesday. The policy focuses on how Karnataka seamlessly integrates its modern Silicon Valley tag, with being recognised globally as a cradle of stone architecture.
Listing out concerted steps that need to be taken to market Karnataka as a global tourist hub, the policy aims to raise Rs25,000 crore worth investments over the next five years.
It adopts a two-pronged strategy to realise its goals: make tourism not only appear attractive as a cottage industry, but also promise huge returns. It also lays emphasis on promoting resorts, cruise tourism, medical tourism, heli-tourism, wellness tourism and environmental tourism. Besides, a range of sops has been offered to investors like stamp duty rebate, exemption from entertainment tax and reduction in land conversion fee.
Releasing the policy, tourism minister G Janardhana Reddy contended that home-stays are being encouraged to popularise local culture, language and cuisine and folk arts. He said that the government would soon take a decision on the demand from home-stay owners of Kodagu and Chikmagalur districts seeking scrapping of luxury tax. On night safari in Bannerghatta Biological Park, he said the proposal is before the cabinet for approval.
What’s in the offing
Four hotel management institutes including one at Bangalore Rural district and two food craft institutes will be set up.
Son-et-Lumeire (sound and light music programme) will commence at Mysore Palace before January.
Sound-and-light programmes would be organised at heritage tourism centres like Bidar, Bijapur, Chitradurga, Kittur, Hampi, Srirangapatna, Aihole, Pattadakal and Bellary.
Stress on attracting large investments and generating massive job opportunities
Develop tourism as an investment-friendly sector with huge employment potential.
Encourage home-stays, which are tourist accomodations with five rooms or lesser, by giving them a non-commercial tag.
Promote tourism in backward areas identified by the Nanjundappa committee on imbalances in development.
Hardsell culture and heritage tourism by developing the historical cities of Hampi, Mysore, Pattadakal, Badami, Aihole, Bijapur and Bidar as comprehensive tourist destinations.
Chalk out a master tourism plan for Bangalore.
Create a Public Accommodation Network to help online booking of lodging facilities including at government guest houses.
Develop Mangalore and Karwar into major cruise tourism hubs of international standards under public-private partnership (PPP) initiatives.
Create basic amenities for tourists like cafeteria, toilets, pharmaceutical outlets, and information and souvenir kiosks along every 150-km stretch of the national and state highways.
Set up environmental tourism destinations in the swathe of territory spreading from Madikeri to Karwar.
Float Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Homeopathy and naturopathy clinics under wellness tourism.
Encourage adventure tourism by promoting scuba-diving, mountaineering, river rafting, paragliding and fishing.
Put in place a heli-tourism infrastructure
Divide all the 176 taluks of the state into five tourism categories of A,B,C,D and E, to offer various incentives, including subsidies ranging from 10% to 35% up to a maximum of Rs35 lakh
Stamp duty exemptions ranging from 50% to 75%
100% exemption in entertainment tax and rebate in land conversion fee
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