Shakti Yojana boosts tourism in Chikkamagaluru district as number of visitors double in June
One month since implementation of scheme, over 7 lakh tourists visited district
Chikkamagaluru, a popular tourist destination in Karnataka renowned for its scenic beauty, has witnessed a significant surge in tourist arrivals following the implementation of the state government's Shakti Yojana. The scheme has contributed to a doubling of tourist numbers in the district, highlighting its positive impact on local tourism.
Fondly referred to as the 'Coffee Land of Karnataka' and the 'Kashmir of Karnataka', Chikkamagaluru attracted 69.70 lakh tourists in 2022. As of June-end 2023, the district has already welcomed 29.24 lakh visitors. Within just one month of the Shakti scheme's introduction, Chikkamagaluru witnessed an impressive influx of 7.17 lakh tourists.
Tourist sites such as Mullayyanagiri, Seethalayyanagiri, Bababudangiri, Kemmannugundi, and the waterfalls in the Chandradrona Hill area have been popular among visitors. Additionally, religious centers like the Sharadamba Temple in Sringeri, the Annapoorneshwari Temple in Horanadu, and the Kalaseshwara Temple in Kalasa have attracted a significant number of tourists to the district.
Comparing statistics from June 2022, Sringeri recorded 1.20 lakh visitors, Horanadu received 88,000 visitors, Kalasa welcomed 8,100 visitors, Dattapeetha saw 63,000 visitors, and Kemmannugundi hosted 18,000 visitors, totaling 2.97 lakh tourists for the month. This year has also witnessed a steady flow of visitors, with 8.13 lakh tourists in January, 3.03 lakh in February, 2.93 lakh in March, 3.67 lakh in April, 4.3 lakh in May, and 7.17 lakh in June.
Government records indicate that the free bus travel facility provided to women under the Shakti scheme has encouraged a significant number of female tourists to explore various religious and tourist centers in Chikkamagaluru. Furthermore, with the monsoon season subsiding, tourists have found it an opportune time to visit the district. Notably, the Sharadamba Temple alone witnessed a staggering 1.60 lakh visitors in June, while the Annapoorneshwari Temple and Kalaseshwara Temple welcomed 2.20 lakh and 1.5 lakh visitors, respectively. Dattapeetha and Kemmannugundi received 1.16 lakh and 71,000 visitors, respectively, during the same period.
Lohith, Assistant Director of the Tourism Department, expressed his satisfaction with the significant increase in tourist footfall over the past six months, with approximately 30 lakh visitors exploring the district. The season of the Neelakuruvanji flowers has also attracted a considerable number of tourists to Mullayyanagiri. The Shakti Yojana has played a crucial role in driving tourist numbers to the religious centers and popular tourist spots in Chikkamagaluru. As a result, business activities in the district have witnessed a notable upswing, further bolstering tourism prospects.
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Govt directive to offer 60 pc flight seats without additional charges put on hold
Mumbai (PTI): The government on Thursday "put in abeyance" its earlier direction to airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats in a flight without levying any additional charge from April 20, according to sources.
On March 18, the civil aviation ministry announced that directions have been issued to the DGCA to direct airlines to allocate a minimum of 60 per cent of seats for selection on any flight free of any additional charges to ensure fair access for passengers.
"The matter has been reviewed in light of representations received from the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air, highlighting operational and commercial implications of the above provision, including its potential impact on fare structures and consistency with the prevailing deregulated tariff regime.
"In view of the above, and pending a comprehensive examination of the issue, it has been decided that the provision relating to offering at least 60 per cent of seats free of charge shall be kept in abeyance till further orders," Civil Aviation Ministry said in a communication to the DGCA.
At present, 20 per cent of the seats can be booked free of charge, while the rest are paid.
Generally, airlines charge Rs 200 to Rs 2,100 for choosing seats, depending on various factors, including front rows and extra leg room, a travel industry executive had said last week.
The move to allocate a minimum of 60 per cent of seats for selection on any flight came against the backdrop of rising complaints that airlines were levying high charges for various services, including seat selection.
