Pics: Spoorthi Ullal
Daijiworld Media Network -Mangaluru (DV)
Mangaluru, Feb 27: Minister for Environment, Ecology and Tourism C P Yogeshwar on Saturday February 27 said that Mangaluru has a huge potential for tourism, hence, the government will focus on making Mangaluru a brand in the state.
He was speaking during the 'Meet the Press' programme organised by the Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists Association (DKWJU) here at the Press Club.
The minister said, "Mangaluru is a hub of the education, health and economic sector. There is a wide scope to tap the potentiality paving way for employment and revenue to the state.
"There is a proposal to turn Mangaluru into a ‘Health City’. In Mangaluru, there is wide scope for health tourism, eco-tourism, temple tourism and heli-tourism,” he said.
He also said that his department is thinking of developing heli-tourism in the district. "Several foreign visitors come via cruiser to the New Mangaluru Port, but as there are no international standard facilities, including connectivity, tourism has failed to gain popularity. Heli-tourism will increase employment opportunities and growth in foreign exchange," he said.
The minister also said that his department will moot a proposal to the union government to provide the facilities of seaplane, yacht or speed boat to facilitate the tourists to reach their destinations or historical places on time.
Also, he expressed that as the district lies on the stretches of Western Ghats, there is wide scope for backwater sports activities on the rivers. The department will also focus on this in promoting tourism, he said.
Yogeshwar also assured of solving the CRZ problems by relaxing the policies in promoting tourism in the district. “In comparison to other states, tax is high for foreigners in our state. Hence, this will be brought to the notice of the chief minister,” he said.
Dakshina Kannada District Working Journalists' Union president Srinivas Nayak Indaje, and secretary Ibrahim Adkasthala were present. Journalist Vijay Kotian compered the programme.