‘Emulate Goa, Kerala’s success in tourism’

Mangaluru: A session on coastal development and tourism organised as part of the final day of the two-day 35th State Conference of Journalists under the aegis of KUWJ underscored the need for Karnataka to exploit its 320 km coastline for tourism. Speakers cited the success that Kerala and Goa – coastal states that flank Karnataka—in achieving their tourism potential as the prime reason for the state, that is bountifully blessed, in achieving the same.
Underscoring the potential of coastal tourism, KUWJ in association with DKWJU, the host association of the conference, organised a session on Rani Abbakka, a river cruiser, and not at the conference venue. More than 100 journalists and guests were part of the session that saw the cruiser go up the Phalguni River, all the way up to the river bridge across the Nethravathi River from the Old Port, before returning to the Old Port.
M Rathnakar Hegde, chairman, Coastal Development Authority (CDA), who inaugurated the session, said the sea and the rivers in the coastal districts are their major assets. Despite this, tourism has not grown to the expected level, he said, adding the tourism development department, CDA and other agencies are working in tandem to tap this potential as part of the coastal tourism circuit that has been mooted, and will get the priority the sector needs.
Ganesh Karnik, former MLC, who was the chief guest, said Karnataka offers far more diversity in coastal tourism options compared to Goa and Kerala. “It is imperative for this diversity to be showcased to tourists, especially foreigners, so that tourism can be further developed locally. Apart from the tourism department, the district administration should join hands with stakeholders in giving the necessary fillip for tourism, not just in coastal areas, but in the interiors as well,” he said.
B A Viveka Rai, former vice-chancellor, Kannada University and KSOU, who chaired the session, wished that the assurances made, and projects conceptualised for the development of the tourism potential of the coast do no end up as mere promises. “Local culture and practices should be highlighted in tapping this potential while creating employment for locals,” he said. A website that captures this diversity should be launched to attract tourists in droves to this place, he added.