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Mysore Dasara likely to boost state revenues

     Mysore: The Mysore Dasara festival, which falls on the last day of Navratri (nine nights) has given the hospitality industry and the tourism sector of Karnataka a reason to smile. The influx of domestic tourists to Mysore has ensured a boom for the tourism sector. Almost all hotels in the city and accommodations have been booked. Tourists are being forced to look at alternatives in neighbouring cities. Mysore's Deputy Commissioner S Selva Kumar said that the campaign to promote Mysore in the tourist circuit has yielded results, and almost all hotels are booked to the full. According to him, the City of Palaces is expecting over a million tourists during the Dasara activities. "The Dasara 2006 has exploited its full commercial potential and the hotel industry and service sector is looking at Mysore as a fine tourist destination," Selva Kumar said. Every year, hundreds of tourists head towards the erstwhile princely state, famous for its gardens and the royal palace of the Wodeyar dynasty. The state festival of Karnataka dates back centuries. The elephant march depicts the state's traditions and culture along a five-kilometre route. The illuminated palace with its beautiful and elegant interiors is another attraction for tourists. "The information technology-savvy crowd has made Mysore a popular destination," says hotelier Giri. For Cheluvaiah, a Tangawala (horse carriage driver) business looks bright and he is happy about the influx of tourists. "Tanga or the horse cart in Mysore has a traditional link and is one of the main attractions for the tourists," he claimed. Last year, almost four million tourists visited the city during the festival. By patronizing the event, the state government has attained a great success in exhibiting the rich heritage of the region. The percentage of foreign tourists arriving in the state has increased from a mere 4.03 per cent in 1991 to 15.7 per cent in 2004. Last year as many as 24.6 million domestic visitors and 545,000 foreigners enjoyed the tourist splendours of the state.
-Sept 27, 2006