K'taka needs to improve air link to promote tourism

Mysore, May 16 (UNI) Speakers at the Karnataka Tourism Expo-2006 here today unanimously opined that tourism in the state in general and Mysore in particular would not grow unless air connectivity was improved.

Addressing a seminar on 'Challenges of Connectivity,' organised as part of the Expo, Singapore Airlines General Manager in India B K Ong said his airlines was prepared to start daily services to Bangalore.

Observing that Bangalore had less international connectivity compared to other metros in India due to lack of facilities, he pointed out that only 11 international operators offered services from Bangalore as against 50 from New Delhi, 42 from Mumbai 42 and 30 from Chennai.

He said international connectivity to the proposed Mysore airport would boost economy and employment.

Mr Anand Katti, Country Representative, TTG Asia, suggested that the Karnataka Government promote palm script tourism to bring scholars from different parts of the world to Mysore as the Oriental Research Institute was located in the city. There were 46 manuscript research centres in the country, of which one was located in Mysore, he added.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Dinesh Naidoo, Managing Director Serendipity Tours, Durban, South Africa, said Indians settled in South Africa were ready to invest in tourism projects in Karnataka.

Of the 13 lakh Indians in South Africa, eight lakh were from South India, he noted.

He opined that Bangalore required one more airport, apart from the one coming up at Devanahalli.

Karnataka Tourism Principal Secretary L Shanthakumari announced that the upgradation work on the Mysore Mandakali airport would start once the stay on the acquisition of 20 acres of land was vacated by the Karnataka High Court. The case would come up before the court on May 30.

The state government had already handed over 175 acres of land to the Airports Authority of India for the purpose, she added.

She informed that the UAE Airlines would start operations from Mangalore airport from May 27.

UNI BSP RG RA BD2014