From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Sep 27: Rs 5,000 crore investment and creation of 10,000 direct and indirect jobs by the year 2025 is the ambitious target of Karnataka’s new Tourism Policy unveiled by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in Bengaluru on Sunday.
Releasing the policy for the years 2000-25 in the Conference Hall of Vidhana Soudha, the Chief Minister said the State Government aims to increase the contribution of the tourism sector from the present 14.8 % to 20 % of Gross State Domestic Product (GSDP) by 2025.
Karnataka will be adopting ‘360 Degree Marketing Strategy’ to promote tourism activities in the domestic as well as key international markets to leverage the State’s vaunted brand of ‘One State, Many Worlds’ to attract larger number of tourist footfalls and position it as the ``most preferred destination,’’ he said.
Agri-tourism and Rural-tourism as well as Heritage-tourism will promoted as the core tourism themes besides promoting the unique culture of Lambani and other Adivasi communities at the national and international levels, the Chief Minister said.
Yediyurappa emphasized that the State Government will devote greater attention to boost comprehensive development of the tourism sector by focusing on the State’s 5 As – Attraction, Accommodation, Accessibility, Amenities and Activities.
State Toursim, Kannada and Culture Minister C T Ravi said, “Karnataka is a land of glorious tradition, rich culture and artistic excellence in addition to being the nature’s exotic playground providing a royal retreat for travelers.’’
“The main aim of the tourism policy is to ensure that every visitor to this beautiful land should take back satisfying experiences,’’ he said.
Ravi mentioned hat Karnataka’s ‘’Script your Adventure’’ campaign to promote tourism had received the prestigious international award of Pacific Asia Travel Association’s (PATA) Gold Award for the year 2020 besides securing the best stall award at the International Tourism Fair held at Madrid, Spain.
Revenue Minister R Ashok, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) chairperson Shruti and Y A Narayanaswamy, MLC, attended the function.
Earlier, the Chief Minister flagged off the Bike Rally for Youth organized by the Tourism Department as part of the World Tourism Day celebrations.
CM felicitates CT Ravi
The Chief Minister felicitated Kannada and Culture and Tourism Minister C T Ravi on his being appointed as the national General Secretary of BJP.
A batch of BJP Legislative Council Members led by Deputy Chief Minister Lakshmana Savadi, Fisheries and Muzrai Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary along with State BJP President Nalin Kumar Kateel called on the Chief Minister at his home office, Krishna.