Centre provides funds for 2 tourism projects for Karnataka

New Delhi, Apr 20 (UNI) The Ministry of Tourism will provide Rs 50 crore for Karnataka Government to develop Hampi and Aihole-Badami-Mahakoota as mega tourism projects in the state.

An assurance to this effect was given by the Centre at its meeting with Karnataka Tourism officials today. Under the programme, Rs 25 crore funds would be utilised by the two projects for developing road network, construction of hotels, dormitories, facilities for sound and light programmes.

A project report would be submitted by the Government in the next two months, Mr Vithala Murthy, Secretary Kannada, Culture and Tourism told newspersons.

He said the state government could not provide the project report for Hampi, the seat of Vijay Nagar dynasty because it was figured in the 'endangered list' of the UNESCO and any project could be undertaken only after its Master Plan was cleared by the Urban Development Ministry.

He added Karnataka Tourism Ministry had 200 acres of land in Hampi and the state was ready with its plans to attract not just high-end tourists but the backpackers as well.

He added there was a quantum jump in budget allocations by the Karnataka Government, which registered a phenomenal rise from a mere Rs 10 crore in 2005 to Rs 148 crores in 2007-08 and the lot of money was invested in connecting tourism destinations by providing road infrastructure by investing in last mile connectivity to connect several domestic tourist destinations.

The state expected to recieve 10 million tourists by April 2008, when the new international airport was operational.

Presently, it was the eighth biggest destination for attracting international tourists and fourth for domestic tourists. However most of these arrivals were for business tourists and the hotel occupancy during the week ends was low.

UNI