Plea to make Mysore airport operational

Mysore’s mega travel trade expo, Mysore Travel Mart ’10, began here on Monday with grumblings from some quarters over the lack of an airport in the city.

The travel mart, conceived by the Mysore Travel Agents’ Association (MTAA), has drawn over 60 players from the travel trade who have come to market their products to travel agents and tour operators. The state government’s Tourism Department has backed the Rs 25 lakh travel mart by granting Rs 7 lakh.

Apart from hoteliers, resort, home stay and tour operators from across Karnataka and neighbouring states, chiefly Kerala, leading tour operators are participating in the three-day show.

Inaugurating the exposition, Suttur Mutt seer Shivarathri Deshikendra Swamiji observed that Mysore is a tourist place which can be visited by tourists any time in a year, unlike most destinations where visits are confined to particular seasons. This was because of the ideal climate throughout the year and a host of attractive places.

Though the remodelled Mysore airport was ready to operate flights, no services have been operated yet, denying visitors an airlink. It was not that funds were not available, what was lacking was the earnestness to project and develop Mysore, he bemoaned.

He suggested to the MTAA to project Mysore across the globe, introduce package tours, train tourist guides with updated knowledge and create awareness on cleanliness in the city. The swamiji launched an online booking portal, spicetrip.com

Travel mart chairman S P Shanthinath said while the Palace attracts about 2.5 million visitors annually, nearly as many as Madame Tussauds Museum in Amsterdam, around 250,000 visitors had visited Mysore during December alone, indicating the growth of the city as a major tourist destination.

He urged the government to illuminate the palace on all the 365 days by installing generators with the JNNURM funds and introduce uniform entry tax across the country, tap yoga and adventure tourism in Karnataka, create infrastructure for tourist places and see the Mandakalli airport became operational without further delay.

Hotel Owners’ Association president M Rajendra wanted a dynamic Minister for Tourism who can devote greater attention to develop Karnataka as the country’s major tourist destination for all sections of visitors.

MTAA president B S Prashanth said the trade fair would become an annual feature for promoting tourism in Mysore and help tour and tour operators market their products.