Raja Seat is one of the prime attractions for tourists in Madikeri. | Photo Credit: FILE PHOTO
Kodagu continues to be one of the top tourist destinations in the State, drawing 45.72 lakh visitors in 2024, surpassing its record in 2023, which drew 43.99 lakh tourists.
The increase of two lakh visitors highlights the district’s growing appeal, particularly as a hub for coffee tourism.
Deputy Director of Tourism Anita Bhaskarremarked, “It appears to be a golden era for tourism, with a surge in visitors seeking to experience Kodagu’s landscapes. The district remains a preferred getaway, as seen in the footfall in the last two years.”
During an interaction with reporters on Thursday, Ms. Bhaskar said that steps are being taken to successfully implement the Tourism Police 2029, keeping the focus on increasing footfall and understanding the tourism potential of Kodagu.
The post of the Deputy Director for Tourism in Madikeri was vacant for many years, and it was filled about a year ago, with the district being an important tourist destination.
She said 23 tourist sites in Kodagu have been identified for development under various schemes. Steps have been taken to appoint nine guides in various tourist sites. Ten more “Pravasi Mitras” will be appointed for other sites in the coming days, she added.
One district,one destination
Ms. Bhaskar said Mandalapatti hill station has been identified under the “One District, One Destination” programme, and facilities will be provided to tourists at the popular site, which attracts a large number of adventure enthusiasts.
For the first time, Kodagu is being included under a tourist circuit, the details of which will be announced soon.
Steps have also been taken for developing “Coorg Village” near Raja Seat in Madikeri. The department has joined hands with the orange growers cooperative society in Gonikoppal for popularising Kodagu oranges among tourists.
Thanks to the efforts of Deputy Commissioner Venkataraja for promoting Kodagu tourism, a lot of tourists are visiting Kodagu to explore the coffee land’s beauty, and one of the reasons for the rise in footfall is the social media promotion of “Coorg tourism”, she said.
Ms. Bhaskar said a sum of ₹1 crore has been sanctioned for the development of Abbey Falls, Iruppu Falls, and Malatirike Hills in Virajpet due to the efforts of MLA A.S. Ponnanna.
Ms. Bhaskar urged the owners of homestays, hotels, and lodges to put up signages on their premises, stating the ban on single-use plastics in the hill station, where several steps had been taken to make the place “trash-free”. The effort will impact tourists, and they shall be discouraged from littering to establish eco-friendly tourism.
She suggested transportation facilities to some key destinations, including sites of adventure tourism.
During the interaction, suggestions came for reintroducing toy trains at Raja Seat and also organising Pravasi Utsava in Kodagu to boost footfall, besides restricting traffic at Raja Seat to ensure that it will not cause inconvenience to locals.
B.G. Ananthashayana said steps must be taken to crack down on low-quality wines, chocolates, and spices that are being sold to tourists. This will affect the brand Kodagu. Kodagu journalists’ association president H.T. Anil presided over the interaction. The deputy director was felicitated on the occasion.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / April 04th, 2025
