BENGALURU: With Invest Karnataka - 2016 Global Investors’ Meet scheduled for three days from February 3, the Tourism Department authorities are looking forward to private corporate companies adopting tourist places across the state. The department has identified 319 tourist destinations and monuments for adoption. This move is the first of its kind in the country.
Adopting a tourist destination involves providing basic amenities such as roads, drinking water, toilets, vehicles and guides.
Official sources in the Tourism Department said that the adoption programme will be a big boost for the department as it has limited funds. A source said, “We need to give salaries and pay annual maintenance of many tourist places. We are leasing out tourist places to private companies. They can provide better facilities under their corporate social responsibility initiatives.”
Another official said that while companies are keen on adopting popular tourist destinations in Bengaluru and Mysuru, the lesser known tourist spots in places such as Chamarajanagar have little or no demand.
Adopted Tourist Spots
Ranganthittu, Mandya: Sandur Manganese and Iron Ore Limited Venkatappa Art Gallery,
Bengaluru: Tasveer Foundation Bengaluru Museum, Bengaluru: Jindal Foundation Lalbagh, Bengaluru: Bangalore Chambers of Industry and Commerce Belur and Halebidu, Hassan: Cafe Coffee Day Kavala Caves, Uttara Kannada: The West Coast Paper Mills Ltd