Tag Archives: Mysuru

Air Kerala is the latest entrant in the Indian aviation space.

Air Kerala to connect Kannur with Mysuru by mid-2025

Kannur-headquartered Air Kerala is set to launch flights connecting Kerala and Mysuru, Karnataka by mid-2025, using ATR aircraft. This announcement by Air Kerala Chairman Afi Ahmed, following a series of discussions with key stakeholders, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), and local representatives.

Ahmed emphasised the airline’s focus on boosting Mysuru’s appeal as a tourist destination.

Mysuru MP Yaduveer Wadiyar highlighted that Air Kerala’s entry will also benefit the local economy. He noted the region’s rich cultural heritage and its global reputation as a yoga hub as key factors in the decision to establish connectivity.

A major highlight of the collaboration is the plan to establish an aviation academy in Mysuru. This initiative aims to nurture local talent and strengthen aviation infrastructure.

The AAI Mysuru has pledged its full support to Air Kerala, ensuring smooth flight operations with adequate infrastructure.

Additionally, Mysuru Airport’s director, J.R. Anoop, along with other stakeholders, stressed the importance of leveraging strategic campaigns to boost tourism.
The collaborative efforts aim to showcase Mysuru’s diverse offerings, from historical landmarks to wellness retreats.

The announcement signals a broader collaboration between Air Kerala and Mysuru’s stakeholders. Chamundeshwari MLA G.T. Deve Gowda, Air Kerala CEO Harish Kutty, and other officials emphasized the mutual benefits of this initiative.

By unlocking Mysuru’s full potential, Air Kerala’s operations are expected to pave the way for sustainable growth in tourism, business, and aviation.

SOTC Travel opens first franchise outlet

 

SOTC Travel, a leading omnichannel Travel and Tourism company, has opened its first franchise outlet in Mysuru, expanding its network in Karnataka to 11 locations. This move aligns with SOTC’s strategic focus to strengthen its presence in the region.

Karnataka continues to be a key source market for SOTC’s holiday business, with Mysuru and its neighboring areas driving significant growth. The new franchise, located in the heart of the city, will cater to both leisure and business travellers.

The Mysuru outlet offers comprehensive travel services, including International & Domestic Holidays, personalised tours, cruises, travel insurance, visa services, and more. It aims to serve the diverse needs of families, millennials, Gen Z, and business travellers.

Rakesh Bawa, Senior VP & Head – Holidays at SOTC, expressed excitement over the store launch, emphasising the strong travel demand from Mysuru. He highlighted special offers and products designed to cater to the city’s discerning travellers, ensuring memorable holiday experiences.

Bengaluru hosts India International Travel Mart 2024

India’s leading travel media company, Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions has organised the ‘India International Travel Mart’ (IITM) in Bengaluru from 26 – 28 July 2024 at the Tripura Vasini, Palace Grounds.

The event was inaugurated by K. Lakshminarayanan, Tourism Minister, Govt. of Puducherry along with Dr. Rajendra KV, IAS, Director – Karnataka Tourism and Managing Director, KSTDC Ltd., Dr. Jayanta Kumar Ray, IAS, Secretary (Tourism), Govt. of Puducherry, K. Muralidharan, Director of Tourism, Government of Puducherry, S. Syamaraju, President – South India Hotel and Restaurant Association and Karnataka Tourism Society, S Mahalingaiah, Chairman, IATO (Karnataka Chapter),Ayappa Somaiah, President, SKAL International Bengaluru, Mani Manimegalai – Vice President, SKAL International Bengaluru, Raminder Singh – Chairman, TAFI (Karnataka Chapter), Sanjay Hakhu, Director, Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions, Rohit Hangal, Director, Sphere Travelmedia & Exhibitions in the presence of other travel industry veterans.

This edition featured 600+ exhibitors from 20 Indian states and 15 international destinations, showcasing diverse travel options like pilgrimages, adventures, culture, wildlife, and more. From Indian rhinoceros to Rajasthan’s festivals to Karnataka’s heritage sites, the event enriches holiday choices. Emphasizing Karnataka’s tourism, it boosts the upcoming Mysuru Dasara Festival and promotes the state’s archaeology and culture.

As the world embraces sustainable practices, IITM takes strides to promote responsible tourism and wellness. The exhibition demonstrates eco-friendly initiatives, community-based tourism projects, and conservation efforts to protect India’s natural and cultural heritage. It encourages travellers to tread lightly and leave a positive footprint on the destinations they visit.

Commenting on this, Rohit Hangal, Director, Sphere TravelMedia, said, “Welcome to the heart of innovation and collaboration in the travel industry. This exhibition is a gateway to shaping the future of travel through new opportunities and partnerships. Let’s explore new horizons, forge lasting connections, and inspire the world of travel. The B2B Tourism Exhibition celebrates collaboration, resilience, and excellence in the industry, bringing together top minds to pioneer sustainable practices, innovative technologies, and new partnerships. Together, we are creating a future where travel is connected, sustainable, and extraordinary, setting the stage for unprecedented growth and advancement in the industry.”

Stakeholders call for promoting Mysuru as a MICE destination amid visitor surge

Mysuru, Karnataka, has witnessed a remarkable surge in tourism during the first half of the 2024-25 season, surpassing all expectations.

With over a million tourists flocking to the city between April and June, this period has already outpaced last year’s record-breaking numbers.

Stakeholders are optimistic about Mysuru’s potential as a Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) destination, urging government support for further promotion.

According to the Mysuru Palace Board, tourist arrivals have soared, with more than 2.4 lakh visitors recorded by June 20 alone. May proved exceptionally busy, welcoming 5.32 lakh tourists despite the scorching temperatures. April saw over 2.92 lakh visitors, contributing to an impressive total exceeding 1 million arrivals this year.

The projected growth indicates that Mysuru is on track to set a new benchmark of 4 million tourist arrivals, surpassing the previous peak of 3.86 million in 2017-18. This milestone marks significant progress from earlier years, where it took over 15 years to bridge the gap from 3 million to the projected 4-million-mark since 2012.

Hospitality sector representatives, including C. Narayana Gowda, noted a substantial increase in hotel occupancy rates, reaching 50% on weekdays and 100% on weekends. This marks a significant rise compared to occupancy rates a decade ago, underscoring Mysuru’s growing popularity among both leisure and business travelers.

Recognising the potential of Mysuru as a MICE destination, stakeholders emphasise the need for state-of-the-art convention centers. Discussions are underway to utilize existing spaces like the Exhibition Ground for this purpose, aiming to attract more trade and commerce activities to complement the city’s traditional tourist attractions such as the Mysuru Palace, Chamundi Hills, and Brindavan Gardens.

With plans underway for new luxury hospitality establishments, Mysuru’s tourism sector looks set to continue its upward trajectory, bolstered by strategic initiatives aimed at diversifying and expanding its appeal to a global audience.

New website underway to promote Mysuru tourism

The city of Mysuru in Karnataka will have its own and exclusive web page on tourism.

The district authorities have decided to develop a website to encourage tourist activities and visitor influx.
A tourism development committee composed of tourism officials and stakeholders has been restructured to review the industry once every three months and discuss improvements.

Tourism stakeholders are requested for suggestions on adding more activities to attract tourists. Currently, about 26 tourism products are approved by the Department but Mysuru has been primarily relying on Mysuru Palace, Zoo, Chamundi Hills, and Dusshera for tourism.

Mysuru Deputy Commissioner KV Rajendra, who heads the committee, reviewed tourism activities and directed authorities to be proactive in promoting tourism.

Centre approves proposal to develop Chamundi Hills in Karnataka under PRASHAD scheme

The Centre has approved the State Government’s fresh proposal to secure funds to holistically develop Chamundi Hills under the Pilgrimage Rejuvenation And Spiritual, Heritage Augmentation Drive (PRASHAD) Scheme, reports Star of Mysuru.

The proposal was resubmitted after certain issues were raised at the ‘Tourism and Culture Ministers Conference of the Southern Region’ in Bengaluru in 2021. The revised plan has been approved now by the Union Ministry of Tourism and the State Tourism Department and the Office of Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha have been communicated in this regard.

PRASHAD is a fully Central Government-funded scheme where up to INR100 crore will be granted towards development of temples. The scheme was launched in 2014-15 and aims at integrated development of pilgrimage destinations in planned, prioritised and sustainable manner to provide complete religious tourism experience. It focuses on the development and beautification of the identified pilgrimage destinations.

As per the revised proposal sent by the State Government, the estimated cost of the development will be INR 48.3 crore and this has been divided into seven parts.

“We will get the letter of communication in the next fortnight and the grants will be released by the Centre in a month. The project will be undertaken soon after the fund release by the Karnataka Tourism Infrastructure Limited (KTIL) that functions under the Department of Tourism,” said Deputy Director of the Department (Administration) Anita Bhaskar.

As per the proposal, the Government wants to beautify Chamundi Hill and its foothill by upgrading facilities, restoring and redeveloping and beautifying the Nandi Statue, Devikere and improving the approach to the Chamundeshwari Temple premises with a guided walkway, interactive signage, smart parking and centralised ticketing and parking facilities.

This apart, the proposal included queue mantapa, stage for cultural programmes, Police booth, seating arrangements around Mahishasura statue, information centre, interactive museum and interpretation centre that will narrate the history of Chamundi Hills and Mysuru with audio visual aid.

Also, the immediate surroundings of the Temple (Praakaara), another Praakaara near Nandi Statue, lighting arrangements, entrance plaza near Mahishasura statue and Mahabaleshwaraswamy Temple have been included in the fresh proposal.

The first proposal to the Centre was sent from the State in 2019, soon after the announcement of the Scheme fund allocation. “There were glitches in the initial proposal and as per the guidelines issued by the Centre, the State has to prepare a clear Detailed Project Report (DPR) to obtain grants from the Centre. The initial proposal was not as per the Centre’s guidelines and as such, it was rejected,” she revealed.

“The proposal did not have the mention of a separate mechanism for the sanction of funds from the Centre. Now the loopholes have been plugged and an exclusive officer has been appointed to channelise the funds. Based on the directive from Mysuru-Kodagu MP Pratap Simha, a team of officials have worked on the proposal since last seven years and now the project is seeing the light of the day,” Anita Bhaskar said.

The issue was raised by Karnataka Tourism Minister Anand Singh at the ‘Tourism and Culture Ministers Conference of the Southern Region’ and Union Tourism Minister G. Kishan Reddy had said that Karnataka failed to provide a comprehensive report to include Chamundi Hill under the PRASHAD Scheme and there were glitches.

Soon after the observation was made, the State Tourism Department pushed through the fresh proposal.