K'taka to unleash publicity blitzkrieg for Mysore dasara

With tourist interest in Mysore's world-famous annual Dasara festivities perceived to be on the wane, the Karnataka government has decided to resort to intense publicity to woo visitors and offer better experience.

For the first time, private industries have been allowed to put up stalls at the exhibition, a key attraction of the cultural festivities, slated to be held from October 5 to 14. "Private industries said they will put up 125 to 150 stalls," tourism minister RV Deshpande told reporters today after a meeting with industry bodies such as CII and Ficci here.

In addition, Consul General offices of 19 countries in the city would carry information on the festivities on their websites, he said, adding, US Ambassador to India Nancy Powell has confirmed her visit to Mysore during Dasara. Hop on-Hop off tourism buses are proposed to be deployed during the festivities in Mysore, where a clean city campaign is also planned concurrently, the minister said.

Information on Dasara festivities would be publicised in key airports such as Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad. "Friends have told me that interest in Mysore Dasara has come down a bit. I don't know," Deshpande said, as he highlighted the steps to be taken to promote the festivities aggressively among tourists in India and overseas.

Plans are on by the Karnataka Tourism Development Corporation and the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation to work out attractive bus and taxi packages so that the tourists have an opportunity to visit attractions in surrounding areas like Kodagu.

The exhibition would highlight the state's development and throw light on key tourist attractions such as Hampi besides featuring innovations in different fields, Deshpande said. Jnanpith Award winner and Kannada writer Chandrashekar Kambar will inaugurate the Mysore Dasara on October 5, while theatre personality and Natya Bhusan Enagi Balappa would open the cultural festivities.