Coastal Tourism Development Gains Momentum in Karnataka

Two years after the government announced a coastal tourism development board, the initiative has finally gained momentum. The tourism department is set to notify a coastal tourism policy and formally establish a tourism board, with a focus on attracting millennial and Gen-Z travelers to the state's 320km long coastline. The department is identifying key locations for public-private partnership projects, including five beaches in Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi districts, and is consulting agencies to develop and maintain Someshwara and Panambur beaches near Mangaluru.

Key Takeaways:

• The Karnataka government has decided to notify a coastal tourism policy and set up a tourism board, with a focus on attracting millennial and Gen-Z travelers.
• The tourism department has identified five locations for public-private partnership projects: Trasi Maravanthe Beach, Kodi Kundapura Beach, Barkur Fort in Udupi district, and Kodikal and Thannirbavi Blue Flag Beach in Dakshina Kannada district.
• The department is consulting agencies to develop and maintain Someshwara and Panambur beaches near Mangaluru.
• High-end resorts, hotels, and multiproduct tourism zones are proposed near the identified beaches to attract visitors.
• The tourism department will also set up shacks along prominent beaches to match Goa's popular beach experiences.
• Local stakeholders welcome the initiative, citing the need for basic facilities and a structured approach to coastal tourism.
• The new authority is expected to streamline compliance processes and facilitate investors, paving the way for more investment in the sector.
• Regular events across destinations are suggested as a way to support tourism growth.

Statistics:

• Karnataka has a 320km long coastline stretching across three districts: Uttara Kannada, Dakshina Kannada, and Udupi.
• The tourism department plans to identify and develop five key locations on the coastline for public-private partnership projects.
• Two beaches, Someshwara and Panambur, are being consulted to develop and maintain as part of the plan.
• High-end resorts, hotels, and multiproduct tourism zones are proposed near the identified beaches to attract visitors.

Sources:

• "Mangaluru: Tourism department to notify coastal tourism policy soon" by TOI correspondent from the Times of India, no date provided.