Karnataka offers great potential for helitourism

Bangalore, Apr 28 (UNI) Karnataka, a major tourist destination in the country, offers great potential to introduce 'helitourism', connecting different destinations of tourism interest, state-owned Pawan Hans Helicopters Limited Deputy General Manager Sanjay Kumar said today.

Speaking at an interactive meeting on helicopter tourism potential in Karnataka, organised by Federation of Karnataka Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FKCCI) here, he said the state government had invited Pawan Hans to conduct a feasibility study to construct 22 helipads in the state and begin helitourism services between different tourist destinations and shuttle services between major industrial areas in Bangalore.

''We went to Mangalore and Udupi districts yesterday and have identified four locations. There are many potential destinations that are yet to be explored. Gauging by the feed-back we have received, helicopter services in this state will be a big success'', he said.

There were 150 civilian helicopters operative in the entire country which had a density of just one helicopter for each of one crore people. In the US it was one helicopter for every two lakh people. The state government should come forward to realise the true potential of helitourism, he added.

UNI