Minister for Tourism R.V. Deshpande has said the government will give a boost to tourism development in the State with a special thrust on Hampi.
The State’s tremendous tourism potential has not been harnessed fully and tourism development is not up to the expected level, compared with other States, he told presspersons in Sandur on Saturday. The State government had prepared a blueprint improve infrastructure facilities at tourism centres so as to attract more number of people from all over the globe, he said. According to Mr. Deshpande, the government has prepared a detailed plan of action for the development of Hampi and forwarded it to the Union government seeking approval. “The development works are expected to begin in a couple of months,” he added.
When his attention was drawn to the objections raised by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) for installing solar-powered lights and use of earthmovers and the machinery in the protected area of Hampi, Mr. Deshpande said he would discuss the matter with the authorities and hoped that the ASI would cooperate in improving infrastructure in Hampi.
When it was pointed out that Unesco may take a serious view of the installation of solar lights and use of earthmovers in the protected area, Mr. Deshpande said providing or improving infrastructure for tourists was essential and care would be taken to ensure that Hampi’s world heritage site tag remained intact. He said consultants would be appointed in each district to suggest to the government on the tourism potential of each place and what needed to be done to tap it.
“The government, on its part, will improve or provide basic infrastructure in a phased manner at all tourism places, and we hope that the private sector will come forward to invest,” he added.
