Rich Heritage and Natural Attractions

• Cultural and Religious Sites:
  • UNESCO World Heritage Sites: Hampi and Pattadakal.
  • Hoysala Temples: Located in Belur, Halebid, and Somanathapur.
  • Protected Monuments: 844 sites under the Karnataka State Department of Archaeology and 609 sites by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI).
  • Temple Administration: Nearly 35,000 temples managed by the Muzrai Department.
• Natural Beauty:
  • Coastline: 320 km of pristine beaches.
  • Wildlife Reserves: Five tiger reserves and numerous bird sanctuaries.
  • Adventure Opportunities: Trekking and river rafting in the Western Ghats.

Tourism Performance Metrics

• Foreign Tourism: Karnataka ranked outside the top 10 states for foreign tourist inflow in 2022; major tourist sites underperform compared to the Taj Mahal and others.
• Domestic Tourism: Ranked fourth in domestic tourists (182.41 million) but lacks the capacity for exponential growth without foreign tourist contributions.

Challenges in Tourism Development

• Lack of Marketing: Insufficient sustained marketing efforts compared to other states.
• Connectivity Issues: Poor access to both well-known and lesser-known tourist sites; e.g., lack of information about Somanathapur from Mysuru attractions.
• Accommodation Shortcomings: Insufficient quality accommodation near major sites like Pattadakal, Badami, and Aihole.
• Digital Presence: Inadequate visibility on digital platforms and lack of mobile applications for tourist navigation.

Government Initiatives for Tourism Promotion

• New Strategies:
  • Formation of Destination Development Committees focused on diverse tourism types, including experiential tourism and coastal tourism.
  • Upcoming roadshow in Paris and increased participation in international travel marts, including the World Travel Mart in London.
• Future Plans:
  • Introduction of viability gap funding for airlines providing direct flights from tourism-rich countries.
  • Launch of the Karnataka Tourism Policy 2024-2029 to elevate the state to a top-five destination for foreign tourists in India.