The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Jumping on the coastal tourism bandwagon

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Monday, Feb 18, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Jumping on the coastal tourism bandwagon

Staff Reporter

30 beaches have been identified for development

— Photo: K. Gopinathan

Enchanting: Murdeshwar, 500 km from Bangalore, is a tourist’s delight.

BANGALORE: In a bid to woo investors to the hitherto unexplored and pristine beaches, backwater and the natural beauty of coastal Karnataka, the Tourism Department has showcased the potential of the region.

While beach tourism in Goa and Kerala draws lakhs of tourists, the department wants to step in by developing and showcasing virgin beaches along the State’s 320-km coastline that flirt with the Arabian Sea.

Thirty beaches, including the Om beach at Gokarna, Devbagh at Karwar, Turtle Bay at Maravanthe, Malpe, Ullal and Someshwara, in the State have been identified for tourism development. “Swimming can be encouraged in nearly 20 beaches, most of which are located around Karwar,” says Maheshwar Rao, Deputy Commissioner, Dakshina Kannada.

Home stays

The arrival rate of tourists to coastal areas in the State is set to increase to 17.92 per cent a year from 11.7 per cent now, Mr. Rao told potential investors at a meet held here recently. In fact, a number of land owners close to the backwater have evinced interest in tourism projects, and offered land and home stay facilities, he added.

Mangalore city alone, Mr. Rao said, had witnessed a shortfall of nearly 2,500 rooms in the starred and unstarred categories, and this offered an opportunity for investors. The projected arrivals to tourist destination had crossed one million, a tourism official said.

The Tourism Department is also wooing people to its various religious destinations. Apart from Kukke Subramanya, Dharmasthala and Kateel, tourism potential has been identified at St. Aloysius and Milagres Churches, Madina Mosque at Ullal and various Jain pilgrimage centres in the region.

Trekking trails

The Western Ghats that abut the coastal region in Karnataka has several eco-tourism destinations. Treks to Kudremukh, Kodachadri and Kumaraparvatha can provide an enchanting experience to adventure tourists. Nearly 50 west-flowing rivers offer facilities for rafting and other adventure activities.

The Tourism Department is also keen on setting up a marina at Old Mangalore Port that can facilitate sailing and yachting. Since Mangalore can be accessed easily, adventure tourists could utilise the facilities to be provided at the marina, Mr. Rao said.

As many as 12 cruise liners called on Mangalore last year, and the number was set to increase in the coming years, he said. “Immigration facilities at the Mangalore Port have been strengthened to provide hassle-free immigration to tourists,” he said.

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