The 12 months 2023 was a very good one for tourism in Karnataka. The State had 28.45 crore guests, which is 10 crore greater than the earlier 12 months (18 crore). Whereas the numbers proceed to develop, the challenges surrounding the tourism sector, particularly of promoting and infrastructure, stay.  

The rationale for the surge in vacationers remains to be stated to be revenge tourism, a pattern that emerged after COVID-19. Ram Prasath Manohar, Director, Tourism Division, informed TheHindu that together with revenge tourism, the promotions of the division and the introduction of Shakti scheme, the place girls can journey free of charge in State-run buses, contributed partly to the surge. 

Different stakeholders attribute it to the enterprising nature of the personal sector within the final 12 months to lure vacationers by way of offers and different gives. Sanjar Imam, president, Karnataka Tourism Discussion board, identified how there might have been extra vacationers within the State if there was extra supporting infrastructure. 

Want for extra accommodations 

“Lots of people couldn’t journey in the course of the peak seasons as most accommodations have been working at capability. It’s a disgrace if individuals wanting to come back to Karnataka can’t come due to this. The federal government ought to play its half in rising capability by encouraging personal sector,” he stated.  

Ok. Syama Raju, president, Karnataka Tourism Society, additionally agreed that tier-2 locations want extra accommodations. “Whereas there are many accommodations in locations like Mysuru and Hassan, we’d like good accommodations in locations like Hampi, Halebidu, and Vijayapura. The federal government has given trade standing to labeled accommodations, however even regular accommodations ought to get it and we’re requesting for it,” he stated. He additionally stated that if the federal government offers land, then personal events will develop accommodations in underneath the mannequin.  

The capability drawback additionally extends to move choices, Mr. Imam stated. “With authorities buses not with the ability to ferry all of the vacationers, even right here they need to encourage personal gamers by giving them good-term loans,” he stated. He added that these issues needs to be instantly addressed, in any other case the State will lose its edge in tourism. 

“If these issues usually are not solved and we don’t captialise on the surge we’ve got seen this 12 months, then the numbers will slide subsequent 12 months. As soon as they (vacationers) decide up one other vacation spot, we are going to find yourself dropping,” Mr. Imam stated. 

Fewer overseas vacationers and wish for advertising and marketing 

Out of the 28.45 crore guests in 2023, solely somewhat over 4 lakh have been overseas vacationers. Though that is an enchancment from the 1.28 lakh overseas vacationers in 2022, stakeholders continually say that there’s scope for enchancment.  

“We want extra vacationers from different nations in addition to different States. We want extra sights for this. For example, there was not a lot to see in Bengaluru and now the Nandi ropeway is arising which is able to increase tourism. In Friday’s State Funds, some extra ropeways, loads of non secular tourism, watersports and journey tourism growth have been introduced and most significantly, permission was given for persevering with business operations until 1 a.m. in Bengaluru, which could find yourself rising the variety of outdoors guests,” Mr. Raju stated.  

“We additionally want good freeway amenities. Washrooms and different primary facilities on State highways are additionally important to draw extra vacationers,” he added. 

Referring to the Union Funds speech which talked about advertising and marketing Indian vacationer locations on a world degree, Mr. Imam stated, “States must also take a leaf out of it and do their bit and market locations on a big scale. In Karnataka, advertising and marketing occurs in spurts (when in comparison with different states) whereas a sustained marketing campaign is far wanted.”