There appears to be a big gap between the thoughts and the deeds of the State government as far as boosting to tourism is concerned.
A classic example is the world famous Hampi, the erstwhile seat of Vijayanagar empire, enjoying the status of world heritage site and on the map of international tourist destination.
The State government and Tourism Minister R.V. Deshpande have been chalking out plans to tap the tourism potential in the State, including Hampi, and also give it a boost. But on ground, especially in Hampi, things are different. The office of Assistant Director of Tourism has almost become defunct and has been of hardly any use to hundreds of tourists, both domestic and foreign, flocking Hampi every day.
In an effort to boost the tourism sector, the department recently shifted the office, hitherto located in Hosapate, 13 km away, to Hampi. The office also acts as an information centre on Hampi by distributing brochures and leaflets about the monuments and other facilities available here. In addition, it had to impart training to new guides, take up pro-tourism developmental activities, organise daily site seeing trip among other things, so as to ensure that the tourists will return with an ever green memory of the ruins at Hampi, the natural landscape, the art and architecture with universal values, especially in the Vijaya Vittala complex where the stone chariot and the musical pillars, considered as the ‘masterpieces of human genius’.
But to one’s chagrin there is not a single soul, except a ‘D’ group employee, in the office for at least over three months now. Tourists, who are in need of some information, keen to purchase books and the like, have to return empty handed.
The Assistant Director and two others have been placed under suspension for allegedly selecting ineligible beneficiaries under the department scheme of providing taxis for the youths belonging to Scheduled Castes and Tribes.
All the six sanctioned posts – Assistant Director, a First Division and second division assistant, two tourism promoters, a driver and a ‘D’ group employee – are vacant. Koppal Assistant Director of Tourism, and a second division assistant, have been given charge of Hampi office.
Such being the situation, how can the department give a boost to tourism is the question that is boggling the minds of the people here
