The event brought together tourism and hospitality stakeholders from Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Ramanagara, Kolar, Chikkaballapura, and Tumakuru, creating a collaborative forum to align industry and government priorities. The programme also featured a felicitation ceremony honouring contributors to the Karnataka International Travel Expo (KITE) 2025, which significantly enhanced the state’s global tourism visibility.
Strong government participation and strategic vision
The event was attended by senior government officials including Shri H.K. Patil, Hon’ble Tourism Minister; Shri K.V. Thrilok Chandra, IAS, Secretary Tourism; Shri Prashant Kumar Mishra, IAS, MD, Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation; and Shri Prashant Shankhinamath, IFS, MD, Jungle Lodges & Resorts, alongside industry leaders and KTS members.
In his welcome address, Mr. K. Syama Raju, President, KTS, highlighted the importance of collaboration, stating that CONNECT aims to build bridges between government, industry, destinations, and communities while showcasing Karnataka’s cultural and natural wealth globally.
Tourism Policy 2024–29 to drive investment and jobs
Addressing the gathering, Shri K.V. Thrilok Chandra outlined Karnataka’s ambitious Tourism Policy 2024–29, designed to balance growth with sustainability and community participation. Key highlights include:
- ₹7,800 crore targeted investment
- 1.5 lakh job creation
- 25 tourism themes and 44 priority projects
- Participation in 50 global tourism events
- Strategic focus on infrastructure, skill development, sustainability, and digital initiatives
The policy aims to position Karnataka among the top three states for domestic tourism and top five for international arrivals by 2030.
KTS expanding outreach and strengthening market linkages
Mr. S. Mahalingaiah, Vice President, KTS, highlighted the society’s extensive outreach through B2B roadshows across cities including Coimbatore, Kochi, Madurai, Indore, Nagpur, Aurangabad, Nashik, and Pune. These initiatives connected over 1,200 buyers with more than 70 stakeholders, while KITE 2025 hosted 130 exhibitors, 100 international buyers, and 250 domestic buyers.
Future initiatives include regional promotions such as Discover Bidar, Explore Kalyana Karnataka, and roadshows in Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Gujarat.
PPP model key to unlocking tourism potential
Delivering the keynote address, Tourism Minister Shri H.K. Patil emphasised Karnataka’s rich heritage and the importance of stakeholder collaboration. He noted that the government is strengthening the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model to encourage private investment, community participation, and sustainable tourism development.
Industry and government reaffirm commitment
CONNECT – 2026 concluded with a strong call for continued collaboration between government and industry stakeholders to enhance Karnataka’s global tourism position. The felicitation of KITE 2025 contributors symbolised the shared commitment to building a robust and sustainable tourism ecosystem for the state.
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