With estimated 9.14 crore tourists visiting Karnataka during 2012, which is over eight per cent increase when compared to 2011, the state is clearly emerging as a favourite destination for both domestic and foreign travellers.
The exact number of tourists visiting the state would be known in the next 10-15 days after the statistics sent by all the districts were compiled, a Tourism Department official said.
The rise in tourist inflow was registered despite problems in popular tourist destinations such as Mysore and Mandya districts over the release of water to Tamil Nadu from Krishnaraja Sagar reservoir (KRS) situated in Mandya district.
In fact, the authorities of Mandya district had to shut the reservoir, popularly known as Brindavan Gardens, for almost a week after the Cauvery issue flared up. The authorities concerned were forced to cancel organised trips to Mysore fearing law and order problem along the Bangalore-Mysore State Highway.
According to statistics provided by the Department of Tourism, while 8.46 crore travellers (8.41,07390 domestic and 5,74,005 foreign) visited Karnataka in 2011, it rose to 9.14 crore, including 5.83 lakh foreign tourists, in 2012.
An official told Express that of late, the number of tourists visiting Karnataka had increased manifold. Good rail, road and air connectivity and improvement in facilities were some of the reasons for the increase in the number of visitors to Karnataka.
Hitherto, travellers were venturing out only during particular seasons, but in 2012 the season stretched out throughout the year.
The speciality of Karnataka seemed to be the variety the state offered to tourists like adventure, education, religious, heritage, theme parks and wildlife.
“People do not mind spending money on tourism to explore new places and meeting new people,” the officer added.
He said the department had identified 168 tourist destinations in Karnataka, of which Mysore, Hampi in Bellary and coastal areas had recorded more footfalls. Foreign tourists liked to visit both Mysore and Hampi, which had many things in common, he added.
More tourists visit Mysore in October to watch world famous Dasara festival, the royal splendour associated with it and the famous Jamboo Savari on Vijaya Dashami day.
The officer said till 2009, the number of visitors to Karnataka was below 4 crore as they were taking into account people visiting only 30 destinations.
From 2010, they added another 119 new destinations to this list.