Karnataka promotes coastal tourism, launches Palace on Wheels

Kolkata, Jul 30 (UNI) Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation (KTDC) with a Rs 100 crore budget for the promotion of tourism this year, has focussed on the development of coastal and health tourism besides introducing a unique Palace on Wheels for elite visitors.

Speaking to newsmen here today on the sidelines of a KTDC sponsored promotional programme KTDC Managing Director Prakash Jha said in order to give more focus on the promotion of adventure tourism in coastal areas of Karnataka and develop the infrastructure of Health tourism in line with that of Kerala Tourism department, the state government had increased the state's overall budget for tourism this year by about 40 per cent from last year when a total amount of Rs 60 crores were spent for the development of tourism.

Referring to his plan for the introduction of a super luxury "Palace on Wheels" for a six nights-seven days journey from Bangalore to Goa, Mr Jha said they had already placed the order to the Integral Coach Factory,Chennai for the super luxary coaches at a coast of Rs 32 crores.

"We are expecting to launch the service by September next year following which the train after departing from Bangalore would travel via Mysore, Humpi, Hassan, Bagami, Vijaynagaram and Darodi before reaching Goa on the seventh monrning," Mr Jha informed.

About the fare chart he said though it was decided to fix it at the rate of USD 300 for per person, per night, initially they would keep it at USD 250 per night for promotional purpose.

Regarding his other plan Mr Jha said the state government had also decided to attract more adventure tourists and jungle and wildlife lovers with bountiful attraction in the state.

Besides creating a separate entity-jungle lodges and resorts-the state government had also invited private participation for setting up 40 uniue jungle lodges in different parts of the state with a investment of over Rs 50 crores.

Accordingly, last year the occupacy rates in these jungle lodges and resorts had gone up by 35 per cent. "We expect to take to over 50 per cent this year with the number of tourists visiting coastal areas and health resorts going up manifold," Mr Jha claimed.

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