MANGALORE: The Hampi heritage site will be developed at a cost of Rs. 500 crores by a consortium floated by the Japanese Bank for International Cooperation, according to Tourism Minister D.T. Jayakumar.

Receiving a memorandum from the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) here on Thursday in which an appeal was made to the Government to develop tourism potential in Udupi and Dakshina Kannada, Mr. Jayakumar said the consortium has been floated to make Hampi a world-renowned tourist spot.

Backwater tourism

Talking about backwater tourism development, he said it has not been possible to tap the tourism potential of many places on the coast for lack of investment in the sector. For tourism development, cleanliness has to be maintained in places of interest and tourists should be made to feel they are welcome.

This is how Goa and Kerala have been able to attract a large number of tourists, Mr. Jayakumar said.

He said the Government is working on improving beach tourism, mountain tourism, religious tourism and knowledge tourism. However, the people should allow it to take up projects.

He urged the local people to come forward to invest in tourism-related activities along the coast. Earlier, KCCI president A. Srinivas Rao presented a memorandum to the Minister with suggestions to improve tourism in the two districts.

Funds

Mr. Rao said the Government should provide adequate funds for tourism development and launch a multimedia campaign on the tourism potential of the State.

He urged the Minister to appoint at least one tourism officer in Dakshina Kannada to take up tourism-related activities.

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