Union Minister for Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat inaugurating Mysore Travel Mart (MTM-2026) at JCAC yesterday as MP Yaduveer Wadiyar, Tourism Department Commissioner Dr. K.V. Trilok Chandra, Mysore Travels Association President B.S. Prashanth, MTM Chairman C.A. Jayakumar, Vice-President C. Narayanagowda, industrialist and philanthropist Dr. M. Jagannath Shenoy and Baliga Investments MD Yogesh Dange look on.

Mysuru, June 6 – Union Minister for Culture and Tourism Gajendra Singh Shekhawat said Mysuru should not remain just a city but must evolve into a central hub of South India’s tourism industry.

He was speaking after inaugurating the fifth edition of the Mysore Travel Mart (MTM-2026), organised by the Mysore Travels Association in collaboration with the Karnataka Tourism Department, at the Jagannatha Centre for Art & Culture (JCAC) auditorium in Vijayanagar yesterday.

Minister Shekhawat said cities such as Jaipur, Udaipur and Agra have emerged as major tourism centres in North India due to sustained planning and focused development and Mysuru too requires a similar vision and long-term efforts to reach that stature.

He noted that during the Dasara festival, footfall at Mysore  Palace even exceeds that of the Taj Mahal. However, he stressed that tourism growth should not be confined to festive seasons and must be sustained throughout the year.

More immersive experiences

At present, many visitors tend to complete sightseeing in a single day and leave, limiting the city’s economic benefit, he said. To address this, he emphasised the need to encourage longer stays by offering more immersive experiences.

Shekhawat said today’s travellers, particularly Gen-Z and Gen-Alpha, seek authentic and experiential tourism rather than just monuments. Mysuru, he said, must position itself as a destination offering cultural, culinary, spiritual, eco-tourism and recreational experiences.

While Dasara remains Mysuru’s signature identity, he called for a year-round calendar of cultural events, food festivals, art programmes and experiential tourism initiatives to sustain visitor interest.

He added that Karnataka, with its heritage sites, wildlife, beaches and modern attractions, has the potential to position Mysuru, the State and the country as a global tourism destination.

South’s tourism network

Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, who also spoke on the occasion, described Mysuru as Karnataka’s cultural capital and said it plays a key role as a foundation for South India’s tourism network.

He highlighted the city’s tangible and intangible heritage, including historic structures, lakes, natural landscapes and traditional practices. He also expressed concern over past neglect of heritage conservation, while noting that recent efforts have helped protect landmarks such as Devaraja Market and Lansdowne Building, which have also received judicial recognition.

On the occasion, a tourism book showcasing Mysuru’s heritage and local information was released. JCAC Founder and noted industrialist and philanthropist Dr. M. Jagannath Shenoy was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tourism Department Commissioner Dr. K.V. Trilok Chandra, Mysore Travels Association President B.S. Prashanth, Travel Mart Chairman C.A. Jayakumar, Vice-President C. Narayanagowda and Baliga Investments MD Yogesh Dange were present.