ADVENTURE & WILDLIFE
KEY POINTS
1. Classification of Tourism sector into circuits like Wildlife, Adventure, Religious, Heritage, Colonial architecture, beach tourism, coastal circuit and henceforth.
2. Karnataka a frontrunner in eco tourism, with establishment of Jungle Lodges & Resorts way back in 1980 making it the first state in the country to establish an eco resort to let the tourist enjoy the vivid biodiversity that the state has to offer. Currently with 21 Resorts in 21 locations to facilitate a range of activities.
3. A whole plethora of adventure activities on outskirts of Bengaluru like trekking, rappelling, Aero Sports, Water sports, Triathlon, Quadrathlon routes, Extreme runs on top of Nandi Hills, Cycling events being planned by the Department of tourism for promotion of Adventure tourism in the state.
4. 32 new routes identified for trekking along with Dept. of Forests for conducting well curated and night treks.
5. Licensing by General Thimmayya National Academy of Adventure to operators to follow standard safety norms and guidelines. and to reduce unauthorized trekking and unsafe practices.
6. Collaboration in PPP module to ensure that tourists experience and explore Karnataka better.
7. Actively looking at proposals to promote Mangaluru as an international surfing destination. There is a possibility of collaborating with Jakkur & HAL airports to promote Aero sports in Bengaluru.
8. Karnataka hosts highest number of tigers & Asiatic elephants in country, with constant endeavour to reduce man-animal conflict by activities in wildlife reserves to ensure conservation.
9. Eco Development committees & Village forest communities, water conservation activities, afforestation, development of community centres, schools and employment under Dept. of forests. to solicit support of locals in protecting flora & fauna.
10. Distribution of LPG and focus on Solar initiatives to stop cutting of trees by tribes for firewood, engagement of backward and Indigenous tribes of Soligas, Jenukurubas by giving skill development and employing them under PPP initiatives.
12. Compulsory registration of Home-stays. i. Reduction in registration tariff from Rs. 10,000 to Rs. 500. ii. Simple step by step approach detailed on official webiste. iii. Self Certification of documents to simplify registration. iv. Failure to register before 14-Nov-2016 will result in deeming the property as illegal.
13. Rating of home-stays Mandatory i. Reduction of cost of rating from a minimum of Rs. 15000to Rs. 10000 ii. Imposition of upper ceiling of Rs. 25000 for Rating. iii. Detailed Listing of registered & verified properties with rating, price, facilities, etc on Official website, and promotion on billboards of Dept. of Tourism to endorse and promote the properties and also to make information easiily available to tourists.
14. New policies to give special privileges to Non resident Kannadigas & Non Resident Indians to ensure investment from them within the State.
24 Vol 1 | Issue 5-6 | Nov 16- Jan 17