Mysuru: The atmosphere is very conducive for tourism development in Mysuru and this is possible only if the Central and State Governments and local authorities join hands, said Union Minister of State for Tourism K.J. Alphons Kannanthanam.

He was speaking after inaugurating the Mysore Travel Mart 18 organised by Mysore Travels Association, Mysuru Hotel Owners Association, Karnataka Tourism Department and Karnataka Tourism Forum, at the Platinum Jubilee Auditorium, J.K. Grounds, yesterday.

Mysuru is an ideal place to promote tourism as it has palaces, KRS (Krishna Raja Sagar Dam), Srirangapatna, Chamundi Hill, Mysuru Zoo and many other places of tourist attraction, apart from having local attractions like silk, sandalwood, yoga, besides its most clinching factor the weather, he said.

It is very important to take Mysuru to the global level by providing better infrastructure for which the State, local authorities, travel agents, hotel owners, auto and taxi drivers come together to promote tourism, he felt.

If tourism develops then all the stakeholders will benefit. However, it is sad to see that neither the Mayor nor the local elected people’s representatives are participating in the Travel Mart, he regretted.

The Central Government is prepared to extend all help in the interest of tourism in the city. Discussions will be held with the Civil Aviation Minister with regard to extending the flight services from Mysuru to Goa, Mumbai, Kochi under UDAN scheme, he said.

10 million foreign tourists: The country is doing very well in tourism and in 2017 ten million foreign tourists visited India.  If NRIs (Non Resident Indians) are also included the number could go up to 16 million. Tourism has generated revenue of 27 million dollars and added to 7.5 per cent GDP growth. Last year the revenue is up by 25 per cent and it is expected to double in the next three years, he said.

Rishikesh is yoga city: Alphons surprised everyone gathered by commenting dryly that the boast of Mysureans calling the city as yoga capital is not true. Just by gathering thousands of yoga enthusiasts and creating Guinness World Record  does not make it the yoga capital. Rishikesh is truly the Yoga city, he felt.

Prime Minister Narendra     Modi is working for the progress of the country. He is neither sleeping much nor allowing us to sleep to see that the country develops, he said.

Former Minister S.A. Ramdas, Karnataka Pradesh Hotel and Restaurant Association President M. Rajendra, Mysore Travels Association President B.S. Prashanth, Mysore Travel Mart President C.A. Jayakumar,  Mysuru Hotel Owners Association President C. Narayanagowda, Industrialist Dr. M.Jagannath Shenoi and others were present.