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KSTDC hotels offer tour packages

Written by amith
16 June 2008
When you walk into a Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) hotel the next time, don’t expect the concierge to merely give you the room keys and wish you a good day. He may give you holiday options and even offer to make the arrangements. In tandem with industry trends, hotels owned and operated by this government body will now offer holidays to tourists and not merely rent out a room. According to KSTDC MD Vinay Luthra, some hotels will start offering holidays and other value additions to tourists. “For now, KSTDC hotels at Belur, Badami, Kodagu, Hampi, Mysore and Srirangapatna will offer one-, two and three-day packages which will include accommodation, food and local sightseeing. These will later be available at other KSTDC hotels also.” The department has received a proposal to start cruise tourism in the coastal areas of the state and the Jungle Lodges and Resorts (JLR) property in Karwar already has such an initiative. There is another one close to Malpe near Mangalore where, under a public-private partnership initiative, houseboats are let out and tourists taken on short cruises. Terming northern parts of the state “lesser developed and less popular” tourist destinations, Luthra said KSTDC is buying 14 new buses for package tours, especially to these areas. Shifting the hub of tourist activity slightly from the state capital, the organisation has a proposal to start new packages from places like Hampi and Hubli. Rural tourism, a rather nascent sector, is also being developed. Kokkarebellur, Kodagu, Banawasi and Anegondi have been identified and efforts are on to involve local communities and NGOs in tourism to directly pass on the economic benefits to the local populace. KSTDC is doing its bit to ease connectivity to Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli — it already has a licence to operate 100 taxis from the airport to the city and will soon double it.The KSTDC’s luxury offering, the Golden Chariot, will soon get coffee-table books about the train’s destinations as well as other places of interest in the state. The organisation is also preparing brochures and booklets for the passengers. Documentaries on the destinations could also be screened onboard and a GPS will be installed.Also, parking, entry and other facilities at Brindavan Gardens in Mysore will be managed once again by KSTDC from July 1 after two years. The catering at Mysore Zoo is also being taken up by the organisation from this year. MORE COMING KSTDC hotels to offer holidays, not just rent-aroom service Online booking facilities for hotels soon Cruise tourism in Karwar, near Malpe New packages from Hampi, Hubli Rural tourism at Kokkarebellur, Kodagu, Banawasi, Anegondi ! User reviews There are no user reviews for this item. To write a review please register or login.