State to introduce new tourism policy next year, says minister H K Patil

NT Correspondent

Mysuru: State tourism, law and parliamentary affairs minister H K Patil on Sunday said that state government will come out with a new tourism policy next year by giving special thrust to boost tourism across the state, to ensure basic infrastructure in all tourist spots.

It will also encourage public and private participation in adoption of monuments spread across the state.

Patil was speaking after launching the department of tourism logo and tagline “our heritage, your destination” for brand Mysuru to promote tourism at the function held at Zilla Panchayat in Mysuru.

He said that the new tourism policy also aims at ending disputes between departments of the union and state governments, differences existing among various stakeholders ,historians and officials associated with promotion of tourism activities.

He said that the state has more than 25,000 monuments, places of historical and heritage significance, but so far the government has notified only 856 such monuments, initiated measures for conservation, protection and promotion.

Another 500 monuments will be notified by the government next year, taking steps for their protection.

As the state government itself alone cannot protect all the monuments of historical significance it has, his government has decided to involve both private, NGOs, civil society organizations and public participation in conservation of them especially having tourist potential.

In the recently held Zoom meeting he had with various stakeholders of tourism and others, he said more than 25 NRIs who settled abroad including the United States came forward to adopt, and protect these monuments.

Some among them evinced interest to protect monuments in their villages, in their taluk and district having pride for native places, he said. The new tourism policy also gives thrust to education tourism,agriculture tourism, weekend adventure and wildlife tourism and religious tourism.

The implementation of Shakthi scheme of free travel for women in state run buses has also given fillip for tourism, he said.

He also said he gave instructions to all elected representatives and to deputy commissioners to initiate measures to ensure basic facilities for all tourist spots in their district including Mysuru on top priority as such measures not only boost tourism but also generate jobs as well as economic activities of the region.

Branding Mysuru, releasing logo and tagline help to attract tourists at international level besides projecting the city's history, heritage, and its monuments more to the outside world, he said.

Deputy commissioner K V Rajendra said that detailed action plan was prepared by District Heritage committee on the directions of district minister H C Mahadevappa for promotion of tourism to ensure basic amenities in all tourist spots and protection of all heritage monuments in the district.

It will be sent soon to higher ups of the government, he said. MLAs Darshan Dhruvanarayan, Ravishankar, MLC C Manjegowda,ZS CEO K M Gayathri, DCP Jhanvi, tourism department secretary MK Savitha we represent on the occasion.

'Will bring back 72 idols from British Museum'

State tourism minister H K Patil on Sunday also said that his government will make all efforts to bring back more than 72 idols, artefacts of historical significance that were taken away by Britishers during their regime from the state.

He said that he will work out a detailed plan of bringing back these idols and artefacts after holding discussions with the department of archaeology, museum and heritage departments and other officials concerned as these idols and artefacts were the pride of the state, he said.