The Karnataka State Cabinet approved a new tourism policy earlier this week aimed at dramatically increasing both domestic and international tourist arrivals over the next five years. The policy, in place until 2029, seeks to elevate Karnataka to one of the top three states for domestic tourism and break into the top five for foreign tourist arrivals in India.
The ambitious plan targets increasing domestic tourist visits from the current 28 crore to 48 crore annually, and boosting foreign tourist arrivals from 4 lakh to 20 lakh per year.
H.K. Patil, Karnataka’s Minister for Tourism, shared the State’s vision during a post-Cabinet briefing in Bengaluru, saying, “Currently, Karnataka does not even feature in the top five among foreign tourist arrivals, which we intend to break into over the next five years. The policy seeks to make Karnataka among the top three tourism States for domestic tourism in the country.”
According to the policy data, tourism is seen as a critical driver in helping Karnataka become a $1 trillion economy by 2032. The state attracts nearly 10% of overall tourist visits in India, ranking fourth among Indian states. Domestic tourism in Karnataka surged from 36.7 million visitors in 2006 to 283.5 million in 2023, while foreign tourist arrivals in 2024 exceeded 4.01 lakh.
Key Features of Karnataka’s Tourism Policy:
Adventure Tourism: 50 adventure tourism spots for land, air, and water-based activities will be developed across the state.
Caravan Tourism: A motor vehicle tax exemption will be offered to the first 200 caravans registered, promoting caravan tourism.
Niche Tourism Themes: The policy introduces 25 niche tourism themes including golf, gastronomy, cultural and heritage tourism, coastal tourism, films, agriculture, medical, maritime, spiritual, and sports tourism.
Tourism Analytics Division: The policy will establish a Tourism Analytics Division within the Tourism Department to focus on data collection, statistics, and market research.
Investment Incentives: The policy is expected to attract private investments, facilitated by the Tourism Investment Facilitation Cell. A Global Tourism Investors Meet is planned to highlight Karnataka’s tourism potential.
The state government has rolled out incentives and subsidies for tourism investments, with additional benefits for hotel projects in Kalyan Karnataka and Kittur Karnataka regions. Motor vehicle tax reimbursements, and subsidies for water and electricity tariffs for homestays, have also been announced to encourage growth.
