Bengaluru, Jul 23 (PTI) The Government of Karnataka is committed to making the State one of India’s most investment-friendly tourism destinations by simplifying policies and providing comprehensive support to private investors, Minister K J George said on Thursday.
He was speaking at the inauguration of the Indian International Travel Mart (IITM) 2026, a three-day tourism exhibition that commenced here.
According to a statement, the 26th IITM has brought together more than 850 tourism stakeholders, tourism organisations from 16 States, and over 26 international tourism organisations, facilitating extensive Business-to-Business (B2B) meetings between domestic and global tourism players.
George said such platforms not only showcase Karnataka’s tourism potential to the world but also create new opportunities for investments and strategic business partnerships.
Stating that Karnataka needs greater private investment to unlock the full potential of its tourism sector, the Minister said the Government is simplifying tourism policies by offering subsidies, single-window clearances and various incentives to create a truly investor-friendly environment.
“Whether you plan to establish a resort, develop adventure tourism facilities or launch cruise tourism services, the government will stand with you. Our commitment is to ensure that investors can establish and operate tourism enterprises in Karnataka without unnecessary procedural hurdles,” the minister said.
He noted that Karnataka offers a diverse portfolio of tourism experiences like nature tourism, wildlife tourism, coastal tourism, spiritual tourism, wellness tourism and adventure tourism.
“To effectively position these strengths in domestic and international markets, the government has been actively organising roadshows, travel marts and investor engagement programmes across India and overseas,” George said.
The minister further said the Government is prioritising tourism infrastructure, improved connectivity, quality visitor services and an investment-friendly ecosystem while strengthening the vision of ‘Brand Karnataka’ and the tourism campaign ‘One State, Many Worlds’. He emphasised that collaboration between the Government and the private sector is essential for sustainable tourism growth and invited investors, tourism entrepreneurs and travel industry stakeholders to become partners in Karnataka’s growth story.
Speaking on the occasion, V Ram Prasath Manohar, Secretary, Department of Tourism, said tourism is far more than an industry that attracts visitors; it is a key driver of employment, investment and local economic development.
“Our goal is to position Karnataka as one of India’s most preferred tourism destinations by fostering strong partnerships between the government, investors and the tourism industry. Such collaborations will play a vital role in accelerating sustainable tourism growth across the state,” he added. PTI AMP ADB
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