Shekhawat urges Karnataka to adopt Centre’s tourism policy, pitches incentives for Mysuru growth

Mysuru: Union tourism minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat on Friday urged Karnataka to adopt the Centre’s draft tourism policy to attract greater investment in hospitality and related infrastructure, citing gains in Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, which have implemented similar measures.

Speaking after inaugurating the three-day Mysore Travel Mart, Shekhawat said new hospitality projects in cities with a population below 10 lakh would be treated as infrastructure investments. This classification, he said, offers multiple advantages, including easier access to finance and relaxed bank loan terms. It can improve the viability of hotel and tourism projects.

Pointing to Mysuru’s growth trajectory, he said the city is likely to cross the one-million population mark after the next census. He urged that the policy be implemented before that threshold is reached to maximise benefits.

Highlighting Madhya Pradesh’s model, the minister said the state offers a 30% capital subsidy to investors. Such incentives, he said, can trigger a cycle of growth, with new hotels and tourist facilities boosting visitor spending and tax revenues, enabling the state to recover and multiply the value of concessions.

Shekhawat said the Karnataka govt, under new leadership, should consider the draft policy shared by the Centre, offer stronger incentives and improve ease of doing business in the hospitality sector to take Mysuru “to the next level.”

He stressed the need for an effective single-window system for tourism projects. Investors, he said, have submitted a memorandum outlining difficulties in securing multiple no-objection certificates and approvals, and argued that streamlined clearances would encourage more investment.

Shekhawat said Gen Z and Gen Alpha are increasingly shaping family travel plans and seeking authentic experiences. He suggested Mysuru could develop curated experience centres, adventure and trekking trails, and event-based tourism to strengthen the local economy.

On heritage conservation, the minister said protecting Mysuru’s legacy requires public ownership and pride, adding that neither courts nor govts alone can preserve heritage without citizens’ participation.

Mysuru MP Yaduveer KC Wadiyar attended the event, where philanthropist M Jagannath Shenoy was felicitated.