Government accorded industry status to tourism infrastructure: Minister K.J. George

Mysuru: World Tourism Day was celebrated at Mysore Palace premises this morning under the joint auspices of the Tourism Department, Tourism Committee, District Administration and various tourism-related organisations.

The event was inaugurated by Tourism and Energy Minister K.J. George, who welcomed a group of four to five tourists from New Zealand by presenting them with roses.

A folk art procession featuring elephants Prashanth and Mahendra was taken out. However, due to the high temperature, the elephants were restricted to the Palace premises, while the procession reached Moulana AbulKalam Circle (Highway Circle).

The procession featured Mounted Police, Chande Maddale, traditional Kodava Valaga dance groups, Dollu Kunitha, Kamsale and Pooja Kunitha. Mysuru Tourism mascots Gajju and Ammu and tonga chariots were also part of the procession.

Members of the Hotel Association and other tourism-related organisations participated in the celebrations dressed in white and travelled on an open-top Ambari bus.

Tourist patrol vehicle

GRS Fantasy Park sponsored a dedicated tourist patrol vehicle, a modified Innova with tourist support branding, to assist visitors in case of emergencies or accidents.

Six mobile fast-food canteen vehicles equipped with gas stoves, food storage counters and water connections were also distributed to SC/ST beneficiaries under the Tourism Department.

Profitable tourism management

Addressing the gathering, Minister George said the Government was committed to develop the tourism sector and ensuring profitable management of organisations working in the field.

He said the State Government had accorded industry status to tourism infrastructure and announced a new tourism policy, which would provide investors opportunities for long-term investment along with greater facilities.

On the long-pending demand for a dedicated Mysuru Tourism Authority, the Minister said he had received the proposal and would hold discussions to address the matter appropriately.

Narasimharaja MLA Tanveer Sait urged the Government to ensure that the illumination of the Mysore Palace was not restricted to the Navaratri season but was held daily for at least half an hour throughout the year. This, he said, would encourage tourists to stay overnight in Mysuru.

H.D. Kote MLA and Karnataka Jungle Lodges and Resorts Chairman Anil Chikkamadu, Karnataka Exhibition Authority Chairman Ayub Khan, Tourism Department Secretary Dr. V. Ram Prasath Manohar, Deputy Commissioner G. Lakshmikanth Reddy, City Police Commissioner Seema Latkar, MCC Commissioner M.K. Savitha, Tourism Minister’s Advisor Dr. H.V. Santhrupth, Mysuru Hotel Owners Association President C. Narayanagowda, Mysuru Travels Association President C.A. Jayakumar and Federation of Organisations and Associations of Mysuru (FOAM) President B.S. Prashanth and others were present.