K'taka targets Rs 400 cr business at tourism investors meet

{image-Vidhan Soudha, Bangalore02_16122007.jpg news.oneindia.in}Kochi, Dec 16: Terming tourism as the ''next big revolution'' in Karnataka, its Tourism Director C Somasekhara said the state was targeting investments to the tune of Rs 300 crore to Rs 400 crore at a major tourism investors meet, to be held in Bangalore next month.

Talking to reporters here last evening, he said hotels, resorts and world class golfing facilities were among the areas in which the State was looking for investments on a public-private partnership basis. On the shortage of hotel rooms, he said in Bangalore alone, there was a demand for 20,000 rooms, while only 5,000 were available. For its part, the state government had hiked the budget allocation for tourism byalmost 300 per cent from last year, which now stood at Rs 148 crore.

Dr Somasekhara said a ''landstock'' had been created in all districts of the state and this could be used for putting up tourism-related infrastructure. Near the World Heritage site of Hampi, a 232-acre area was being developed with all major tourist facilities.

In view of the increased demand for professionals for the industry, two Food Crafts Institutes were being set up, apart from starting tourism-related courses in a college under each university in the State, he said.

UNI