BANGALORE: The way the fabulous ruins of Hampi, a world heritage site, is showcased to tourists might undergo a sea change in future. The Tourism Department is evolving an interpretation strategy as part of the broader tourism strategy for the monuments of Hampi.

The department will evolve strategies with the assistance of consultants and has invited expression of interest to which 13 national and international consortiums have responded in an effort to draw up strategies for Hampi and the surrounding region.

Tourism Commissioner G. Kumar Naik said, "It is not only merely to tell what the monuments are, but also to provide a totality of experience to tourists, both domestic and international."

Among those who have evinced interest are the Tourism Finance Corporation of India, Price WaterhouseCoopers and Metro Infrastructure Projects. Many of these consortiums have consultants who have worked on important assignments in Asia, Europe and North America.

According to Mr. Naik, a consultant for the project will be identified in about a month. "The consultant may require a couple of months to study the area and prepare the strategies," he said.

Terms of reference

As the process of identifying the consultant gets under way, the department is also finalising the terms of reference for the consultant to prepare tourism strategies for Hampi. Tourism Department officials held a meeting on Friday to draft the terms of reference for evolving tourism strategies, before the work is given to a consultant.

Discussion revolved around the development of strategies for the whole area of 236 sq. km, instead of restricting it to only the ruins of Hampi. The meeting was attended by the Programme Specialist (Culture) of UNESCO, Nicole Boloney, and senior officials of Bellary and Koppal districts, who are office-bearers of the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority.

Mr. Naik said, "Apart from the regional strategy, the consultant will be asked to prepare specific plans to develop properties of the Tourism Department located in Hampi. The department owns around 200 acres, which can be developed to augment infrastructure." Besides, the identified consultant would provide a plan to improve tourism infrastructure and provide an interpretation strategy.

Infrastructure

He said that the Government had to put in place good infrastructure before promoting the site.

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