Karnataka to launch 'golf tourism' circuit

The state-owned Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC), in an effort to attract high-end travellers from India and abroad, is developing ‘golf tourism’ packages. It intends to launch a new tourism circuit for avid golfers in the next couple of months. For a start, the corporation will promote Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum, Chikmagalur and Madikeri as preferred golf tourism destinations.

Vinay Luthra, managing director, KSTDC, said, “While Karnataka’s rich culture, heritage, history and cuisine have been popular, the amazing golfing centres have remained unexplored. Our aim is to leverage golf as an opportunity to attract both domestic and international travellers. We will also leverage the strength of Golden Chariot, the luxury train launched last year, for promoting golf tourism in the state”.

From this year, the KSTDC will organise Golden Chariot Golf Tournaments throughout the year at places like Bangalore, Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai. The chosen destinations besides having excellent golfing infrastructure also offer opportunities of sightseeing and this would add another dimension to the ‘One State, Many Worlds’ theme, he said.

“A lot of tourists who travelled on Golden Chariot have expressed desire to play golf during their journey in these cities. Especially visitors from Japan and Korea are very much interested in having golf as part of our itinerary. So, in order to cater to their demands, we thought of adding golf in our package. From this season, Golden Chariot travellers will have the option of playing golf at Bangalore, Mysore and Belgaum for half a day instead of going around for sight seeing,” Luthra told Business Standard.

KSTDC would hard sell golf tourism concept to the target audience while each of the golf associations would extend logistic support at their respective courses. This initiative of the state tourism department was teed off with The Golden Chariot Golf Tournament at Karnataka Golf Association, here on Saturday.

As part of the golf package, the KSTDC will offer its Volvo buses and luxury taxis to ferry the travellers to various golf destinations in the state. The package will consist of four days and four nights and apart from playing golf, the tourists can also go for sightseeing in these cities, Luthra said.

The KSTDC is in talks with select luxury hotels and private golf courses for a tie up. Presently, golf courses in Bangalore and Belgaum are owned by KSTDC and leased to Karnataka Golf Association. The corporation is also planning to develop a new golf course at Tannirbavi beach off Mangalore coast, Luthra added.

According to K Jothiramalingam, principal secretary, department of tourism, the Golden Chariot would be the brand mascot for golf destination promotion.

“Golf has today become an integral part of tourism and has a great potential to attract high end travellers. Given the exotic locations, challenging layouts and natural environments that each identified golf course offers, Karnataka in all probability is set to become a preferred golf destination both for leisure travellers and keen golfer,” he said.