Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SP)

Mangaluru, Mar 19: Seaplanes and heli tourism had provided impetus to Kerala tourism sometime back. They might soon be seen in the city. A team of experts deputed by a private airline from Bengaluru has arrived in the city and begun its survey on the practicability of introducing these services.

Karnataka has a 320 km long coast. Tourism minister, C P Yogeshwar, during his recent visit to the city, had opined that these two facilities can be successfully implemented here if facility for the seaplanes to safely get parked on the seashore is provided. The district administration had forwarded a detailed report on the matter and relating to this issue, a team of experts began its survey here.

Representational image

Heli tourism can help tourists to visit Kollur, Madikeri, Chikkamagaluru, Dharmasthala and some parts of Kerala from here. A team is also looking into the ideal spot for making helipads for the helicopters to land. They visited the helipad at Maryhill, near Kadri Park etc. The team feels that it would be ideal if the spot is located near the highway and the city. Another team will soon come here to finalise the project.

As foreign tourists arrive at New Mangalore Port, if heli tourism is started, these tourists can undertake trips to Subrahmanya, Belur, Halebid, Chikkamagaluru etc within hours.

Survey to implement the seaplane project in Gurpur river has been conducted. For this project too, a place on the riverbank is needed. The seaplanes are six-seaters which can float in river water

Deputy commissioner of Dakshina Kannada district, Dr Rajendra K V, said that tourism minister, C P Yogeshwar has responded to the efforts of the district administration to introduce heli tourism and seaplanes in the coast. He said there are hopes of the tourism sector in the coast getting a new dimension soon.