Tag Archives: Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation

With an aim to increase domestic footfalls, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) and the Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka will organise multi-city roadshows in March and April, 2019 to promote the state as a destination for leisure, MiCE, adventure, wildlife and wedding destination in the Indian market. The event will be held in Mumbai on March 19, Panaji on March 20, Delhi on April 9 and Lucknow on April 10. The B2B roadshow will have over 20 travel agents from Karnataka interacting with more than 100 travel agents and tour operators of the respective cities. The roadshow will have B2B interactions and presentations and cultural programmes that will showcase the destination and also open up new avenues in bringing the destination in new light to the travel and trade community. A cultural performance will be organised to showcase the vibrant art forms that Karnataka is             known for. The roadshow will highlight different aspects of Karnataka tourism such as nature, wildlife, adventure, pilgrimage, heritage and cultural heritage, and many more.

The fifth edition of India Travel Awards South concluded on May 14 at Clarks Exotica Convention Resort & Spa, Bengaluru amidst the presence of stalwarts of the travel and tourism industry. The Chief Guest for the ceremony was Kumar Pushkar, an IFS officer and Managing Director, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation. Anita Mishra, Gladrags Mrs India Maharashtra 2018, was the guest of honour for the occasion. The India Travel Awards South recognises the hard work and effort put in by regional industry players to grow the tourism and hospitality industry. The awardees are selected based on a non-biased system of voting.

The Karnataka tourism department has agreed to share the profit with the Railway Board instead of collecting the huge haulage charges for running the Golden Chariot, the only luxury train of peninsular India. The train was running in loss as the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) was paying more as haulage charges to the Railways than the revenue generated. With the decision, the KSTDC will not only make  revenue from the luxury train but also generate profit for the railways. “The Railways has decided not to go for the haulage charge. They  will be sharing the revenue…whatever revenue we get will be shared between the Railways and KSTDC,” said Kumar Pushkar, Managing Director, KSTDC. He explained that earlier the Corporation made losses for many years due to very high haulage charges to Railways. Pushkar said, “The haulage charges used to be higher  than what the total revenue we were getting from the sale of  the ticket. With this arrangement, running train will be  sustainable. It can be done to promote tourism in future years  also.” Pushkar said Karnataka tourism minister Priyank Kharge had met the Railway Board chairman recently and apprised him of the challenges KSTDC was facing to continue the train. Source: PTI

The Department of Tourism, Government of Karnataka, reportedly plans to promote tourism in the state through special tour packages for the Dussehra festival. The department, through its arm Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), intends to launch the ‘Dasara Special Tour Package’ in the Golden Chariot, the only luxury tourist train in South India, run by KSTDC, to promote this state festival. The first trip will run from September 23 to 25, and the second from September 29 to October 1. The train will depart from and arrive at the Yeshwantpur railway station in Bengaluru. Priyank Kharge, Minister for Information Technology, Bio-Technology, Science and Technology and Tourism, Government of Karnataka, reportedly said, “This initiative of KSTDC provides an excellent opportunity to people to experience royalty on board, which would showcase the Nadahabba, the Mysuru Dasara and its grandeur.” KSTDC has also planned curated royal walks to allow guests to explore the heritage-rich city of Mysuru. Guests will be offered a gold pass to witness the Dasara and cultural programmes in front of an illuminated Mysuru Palace. Source: Hindu Business Line