By IANS,
Bangalore: The Karnataka government Thursday announced a slew of tax reliefs and concessions in a bid to attract investors from the hospitality sector for setting up hotels or holiday resorts near 100 tourist spots across the state.
In the run-up to the Global Investors’ Meet (GIM) in this technology hub June 3-4, Tourism and Infrastructure Development Minister G. Janardhana Reddy unveiled a comprehensive package of subsidies, incentives and concessions in an effort to tap the tourism potential of this southern state.
“Hospitality entrepreneurs can acquire five acres of farm land to set up hotels and resorts near 100 tourist spots identified across the state. The investors can also avail loans from the state-run KSFC (Karnataka State Financial Corporation) at 10 percent interest per annum and seek exemption from the value added tax (VAT) for three years,” Reddy told reporters here.
To make the state a hot tourist destination, the tourism department has decided to develop a film and media city at Bidadi, about 40 km from here. The city will be built over 400 acres of land under public-private partnership (PPP).
“We are also inviting expression of interest before the GIM for a wellness city at Kabini on the banks of the Cauvery tributary in Mysore district. About 200 acres of land has been identified for the project to be developed under PPP mode,” Reddy said.
The tourism department is also inviting expression of interest to set up an 18-hole golf course on 135 acres of land and an international aqua marine park in the coastal city of Mangalore at an estimated investment of Rs.600 crore.
“The tourism department has in its possession about 1,000 acres of land to develop infrastructure and build an eco-system to promote tourism in a big way. In addition, we have identified about 2,255 acres of private lands for tourism projects,” Reddy said.
The department has decided to build an international convention centre near the Bangalore airport at Devanahalli at a cost of Rs.1,100 crore under PPP model with Soma Construction firm.
“We are inviting tenders before the GIM for promoting heli-tourism on four circuits in the state, covering historical, cultural, religious and scenic spots,” Reddy noted.
The tourism department will soon unveil a Rs.180-crore Night Safari project at the Bannerghatta National Park on the outskirts of Bangalore after securing clearance from the National zoo Authority, he said.