Karnataka charts bold new course for coastal and hospitality tourism growth

Karnataka is ready to place itself as India’s subsequent main tourism hub, with the revealing of a brand new Coastal Tourism Policy and an upcoming Homestay Policy. On the fifty fifth Federation of Lodges and Eating places Affiliation of India (FHRAI) conference, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and senior ministers highlighted coverage reforms, capacity-building, and private-public partnerships to drive the sector’s development.

Inaugurating the three-day FHRAI Annual Conference in Bengaluru, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah mentioned the federal government is dedicated to reworking Karnataka into a worldwide tourism vacation spot. He introduced that fifty,000 youth can be educated by 2026 to function model ambassadors, boosting the state’s picture worldwide. Already, 1,000 youth have been educated as vacationer guides, creating each employment and high quality service requirements.

The conference, themed “Futurescape 2047: Refining Hospitality for New India”, comes at a time when home vacationer arrivals in Karnataka surged to 30.46 crore in 2024, marking a 56% enhance from the earlier yr. The sector contributed almost ₹25,000 crore to the state’s economic system, supporting over 4 lakh direct and oblique jobs.

Highlighting the federal government’s focus, Siddaramaiah famous that ₹200 crore has been earmarked for coastal tourism improvement. With 320 km of pristine shoreline, the brand new Coastal Tourism Coverage goals to develop seashores, water sports activities, resorts, and eco-tourism initiatives. The Chief Minister additionally pointed to Bengaluru’s rising function as a premier MICE (Conferences, Incentives, Conferences, Exhibitions) vacation spot, accounting for 15% of India’s share on this section.

Tourism Minister H.Ok. Patil bolstered the federal government’s reform push, recalling the sooner Tourism Coverage 2024–29, which supplies subsidies of as much as ₹5 crore for premium lodges, ₹10 crore for MICE infrastructure, and ₹2 crore for price range lodges, together with 50% stamp responsibility exemptions. “To date, over 120 initiatives value ₹1,900 crore have benefited from subsidies,” he mentioned. Patil added that tenders have been floated for 13 tourism initiatives beneath the PPP mannequin, spanning districts like Gadag, Hassan, and Mandya.

Additional, the state will quickly launch a Homestay Coverage to advertise community-based tourism, notably in heritage-rich areas similar to Lakkundi and Aihole. “We’re additionally upgrading pilgrim centres like Anjanadri Hills and Saundatti Yellamma,” Patil mentioned, inviting FHRAI members to discover funding alternatives.Union Tourism Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, talking on the occasion, projected that India’s hospitality sector will witness 20% development within the coming years, pushed by rising home and worldwide journey.With greater than 1,000 delegates attending, FHRAI President Syama Raju lauded Karnataka’s management in extending a ₹1,350 crore bundle beneath the 2024–29 Tourism Coverage, affirming that hospitality and allied sectors like aviation and transport stand to profit immensely from the reforms.