Suggests to waive off inter-State permit charges for tourist vehicles entering Mysuru

Mysore/Mysuru: Even as all are eager to witness the grand Dasara celebrations in city this year after a gap of two years due to the COVID pandemic that confined the celebrations to Palace premises, an announcement that there will be no Gold Cards this year has disappointed the tourism sector.

Following this, Karnataka Tourism Society (KTS), a professional body representing travel, tourism and hospitality sectors in the State, has written to Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai requesting him to make Dasara Gold Cards available for distribution by Sept. 10.

Stating that selling Gold Cards is a good source of income during this festive period, the KTS has requested the Government to print 1,000 Gold Cards and to reserve 500 of them exclusively for KTS members.

“Sale of Dasara Gold Card had been the practice for over 2 decades, attracting a lot of visitors. Many Tour Operators and Travel Agents from Karnataka have already sold more than 500 Mysuru Dasara package tours to witness this festival. They buy Gold Card when released and distributed at cost price among tourists who have booked Dasara packages. In this context, the CM has been urged to print about 1,000 Gold Cards for distribution among tourist travellers and stakeholders,” the letter stated adding that the additional revenue that would accrue to the State will be upward of Rs. 50 lakh, on sale of Dasara Gold Card directly and more than Rs. 100 crore revenue to all stakeholders of travel, tourism and hospitality sector in Karnataka.

The letter to the CM, signed by KTS President K. Syama Raju and Hon. Secretary S. Mahalingaiah, has also suggested to waive off inter-State permit charges for tourist vehicles which enter Mysuru from other States from Sept. 1 to Oct. 31, which would attract many inter-State tourists towards Mysuru.