Karnataka’s refurbished five-year tourism policy, due to go in for Cabinet approval in June, plans to put the horse before the cart and address issues of infrastructure, manpower and safety first.
New, theme-based travel destinations will be part of the package. Good roads to tourist hubs, toilets, certified guides and operator credentials will be uppermost in the Tourism Policy 2014-19, Tourism and Higher Education Minister R.V. Deshpande told a media briefing on Monday after two days of brainstorming with multiple departments.
Senior officials of the Tourism Department discussed wide-ranging issues with heads of the departments of Forest, Transport and Public Works, Social Welfare, Higher Education and Industry.
A Tourism Infrastructure Development Corporation has become necessary to develop and maintain quality amenities, as suggested by the Vision Group on Tourism. Universities have agreed to start post-SSLC certificate courses in tourism to create a pool of certified guides.
“Developing human resource and infrastructure in tourism is the focus of the new policy,” Mr. Deshpande said at the briefing.
Every district is likely to have its own tourism consultants, who will identify the region’s tourism strengths and needs.
The Finance Department has also cleared the appointment of 12 more assistant directors for tourism at the district level; now there are 18 assistant directors.
Mr. Deshpande said the government would not start any hotel or resort, but focus on upgrading and keeping up the existing ones. A total of 319 hotspots across different themes have been identified. Beach and coastal tourism; rural tourism highlighting regional local traditions and festivals; heritage trails; and nature treks and adventure themes would be the big draw for Karnataka.
A total of 18 spots identified for beach tourism would be developed with a Central grant of Rs. 45 crore.
Beach security and green policing are to be part of the policy. Karnataka cannot have a beach resort within 200 km from the sea. The Centre would be requested to relax coastal regulation norms for Karnataka, too, on the lines of Goa and Kerala, where the gap is much less.
In heritage circuits with multiple sight-seeing spots as in Badami, Aihole and Pattadakal, tourist vehicles would be allowed a single-entry payment. Mr. Deshpande said the super luxury golden Chariot train would run during the rainy season, too, at the same fares. It now runs in the October- March season.
