Express News Service By

The Karnataka Tourism Vision Group, headed by T V Mohandas Pai, has visualised a potential of generating over Rs 83,000 crore of incremental revenue from tourism sector in the State.

In a report submitted to CM Siddaramaiah, the group has suggested the government to lay out a road map to tap the tourism potential, to double the tourist traffic from the present 10 crore to over 21 crore per year. The group sees the scope for an additional 43 lakh jobs over the next decade involving an investment of about Rs 73,000 crore with 50 per cent coming from the private sector.

It has suggested some guiding principles to achieve the overall tourism potential. Its recommendations are inclusion of the tourist places in Hoysala, Srirangapatna and Deccan Sultanate region in the UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites list to draw more international tourists, a world-class MICE (Meeting, Incentives, Conferencing, Exhibitions) facility on a 435 acre near Kempegowda airport to make Bangalore the ‘Go To’ destination for events, promoting adventure tourism at Nandi Hills.

It has recommended the government to explore urban tourism around Bangalore to tap into its large visitor base and local population had also suggested to keep the city open longer, if it has to shed its ‘boring’ tag to position itself as a ‘cool’ metropolis.

The group had said ‘the relaxation of distance norms and liberalisation of the bar licenses, timings around the beach areas’ can go a long way to attract private investment for coastal resorts.

It has also advocated the setting up of an autonomous Cubbon Park Management Authority (CPMA) on the lines of the English Heritage/National trust in United Kingdom and a State tourism governance structure under the Chief Minister’s leadership.

Mulling Nightlife Extension: CM

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said he will seriously consider the Tourism Vision Group’s recommendation for extending the nightlife in Bangalore city. “The Vision Group has strongly advocated extending the nightlife in the city to 1 am. It is not possible to take an immediate decision. We have to consider the pros and cons of implementing the recommendation”.