Foreign tourist arrivals (FTAs) in India during the period January-September 2010 showed a growth of 10.0 percent at 3.83 million as compared to the FTAs of 3.48 million and a negative growth rate of 7.4 percent during January-September 2009 over the corresponding period of 2008.
Indian government has launched a scheme of visa on arrival (VoA) to attract more foreign tourists from January 2010 for citizens of Finland, Japan, Luxembourg, New Zealand and Singapore.
The first 6 months of 2010 has already shown an over 20 per cent increase in tourist arrivals both domestic and international in Karnataka, according to Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC). During the period, there were about 19.8 million domestic arrivals as against 14.3 mil in the same period the previous year. While 1.60 lakh foreign tourists visited the state in the first six months this year, against 0.96 lakh during the same period the previous year. Union tourism ministry has released data recently which shows that during 2009, the number of domestic tourist visits to various states was 650 million, as compared to 563 million in 2008 and 527 million in 2007.
According to the report the top 10 states in terms of number of domestic tourist visits during 2009 were Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Gujarat. Put together, these states accounted for 88% of the total number of domestic tourist visits in 2009.
Karnataka has realized the immense potential of tourism and the budgetary allocation for tourism, which was about INR 150 million five years ago, has been increased to was now Rs 2500 million. Country’s first night time wildlife safari at Bannerghatta National Park, on the lines of Singapore, would take off in two years time, he said adding the government had set apart Rs 180 crore for the same.
A new brand of eco tourism experiences called ‘Jungle Camps and Trails’ has been launched and the ‘Great Western Ghat Trails’ would be launched soon, he said. From October, ‘Silver Chariot’ project in which tourists are taken on buses will take off. The trip will cover the route of the ‘Golden chariot’. The tariffs would work out to Rs 3000 per person per night, he said.
Sanganakallu, a pre historic village near Hampi belonging to the Neolithic age has been excavated and is being developed as a tourist destination that would be of interest to avid history buffs. This destination takes the visitors back to 8000 years ago.
All 30 districts in Karnataka, including the recently-formed Ramanagaram and Yadgir, will soon have their own tourism master plans. This is expected to attract tourists to little known places with potential and thus improve the prospects of Karnataka becoming one of India’s leading tourism destinations. The master plans will identify the destinations and develop infrastructure there.
Tourist destinations in Karnataka
- Bangalore Karnataka
- Mysore Karnataka
- Shravanbelagola
- Belur
- Halebid
- Bijapur
- Aihole
- Badami
- Pattadakal
- Hampi Karnataka
- Srirangapatnam
- Sringeri
- Dharmasthala
- Udupi
- Gokarna
- Katil
- Kollur
- Kukke Subramanya
- Moodabidri
- Karkala
- Melkote
- Somnathpur
The wild game sanctuaries : Bandipur, Nagarhole and Dandeli, the Ranganathittu Bird’s Sanctuary.
Hill stations : Nandhi Hills and Kemmannagundi and Mercara,
Beach resorts : Karwar, Ullal, Malpe and Maravanthe
Brindavan Gardens at Krishnarajasagara, near Mysore
The monolithic statue of Gommateshwara at Sharavanabelagola, Gol Gumbaz with its whispering gallery at Bijapur,
Water falls : the Jog falls and other water falls at Shiva Samudram, Magod, Unchelli or Lushington near Siddapur, Lalguli at Yallapur
The temples at Aihole, Badami and Pattadakal in Bijapur district Halebedu, Belur and Somanathapura
Historical places : Hampi [Bellary district], The Gol Gumbaz and Ibrahim-Roza at Bijapur, the Daria Daulat Bagh (Summer Palace) of Tippu Sultan at Srirangapatna