The tourism sector in Mysuru is set to get a fillip with the launch of three more features to enhance visitor experience.
This includes an English version of the sound and light programme, an audio guide of Mysuru palace, and an Android app on the palace that will also contain details of other places of tourist interest.
Sharing the details with the media on Wednesday, Deputy Commissioner D. Randeep said all three features are tentatively scheduled for launch by the end of this month.
At present, the sound and light show is only in Kannada and caters only to tourists from the State. But with the launch of the English version, the show is expected to draw a larger audience as the bulk of tourists are from the neighbouring States of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, besides Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. It will be 45 minutes long and will follow the Kannada version.
The audio guide is a downloadable pre-recorded audio file that will be a commentary on the displays at Amba Vilas Palace. “Tourists can switch to a specific section in the palace. On pressing the audio file number specific to a site, the appropriate [part of the] file will play,” said Mr. Randeep.
He said a Wi-Fi hotspot will be created in the palace to allow tourists to download of the file. And if required, the palace board will provide earplugs, he added.
The third feature is a palace-specific app that will have details of the iconic monument and information on other places of tourist interest in and around Mysuru. “In all probability, all the three products will be launched by the end of this month,” the DC said.
Introduction of open-top buses to provide a guided tour of Mysuru for visitors is also in the pipeline. The proposal is awaiting response from the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation. “It requires a separate model and the buses have to be modified for the purpose. They are working out the details with the consultants. But this will be done independently by the KSRTC and does not require funding from us,” said Mr. Randeep. However, there is no specific time frame on the feature’s rollout for now.
Water sports at Varuna will be revived to promote Mysuru as a centre for adventure sports and to provide tourists an experience that goes beyond culture and heritage. Bids will be called in due course and the government wants this initiative run on a self-sustaining basis, he said.
Improving signages
Tourists in Mysuru will soon have signages to guide them to their destinations. The project will be funded by the State government.
The details have been finalised and the blueprint is expected to be ready within a week. The authorities plan to spend ₹2 crore to ₹2.5 crore on the project. At the review meeting on Wednesday, stakeholders in the tourism sector and Mr. Randeep said there was a general consensus that signages in the city needed to be improved.
“A sum of ₹10 crore each was allocated towards tourism development in Mysuru and Vijayapura. We are making use of these funds,” said the DC. He said the signages will be in both Kannada and English and will be accompanied with maps. The responsibility of implementation will be on the Mysuru City Corporation.
In addition, it has been decided to spruce up the infrastructure around the palace premises, which is the core tourism zone in the city, besides improving toilet facilities in other key tourist areas. This includes Jaganmohan Palace and Rangayana. Though a grand welcome arch was also proposed at the entry points to the city, the proposal has been shelved for the time in view of the proposed six-laning of the Mysuru-Bengaluru highway.
