Talapady beach to get Aqua sports

• Govt subsidy for resorts

Deralakatte: Talapady (Batpady) beach located on Karnataka-Kerala state border is set to be developed for aqua sports, said Assistant Director (in-charge) of Tourism Department Uday Shetty on Thursday, September 27^th.  Mr Shetty was speaking at the World Tourism Day celebrations at Mangalore University and said that the beach will be developed by a private firm on the public-private-partnership model.

“The firm will improve facilities at the beach. In another five years you will see a change (in the facilities) on the beach,” he said.

Explaining about the project he said that the private firm will build washrooms, a food court and provide parking and drinking water facilities.

Jetties to be created
The department has proposed building of jetties near Kuloor Bridge, Sultan Battery and Bengre for operating house boats and cruise restaurant, said Mr Shetty.

These jetties will be built as part of the Rs. 95.67-crore coastal circuit developments taken up under the Union government’s Swadesh Darshan scheme. The department has also proposed under the scheme to improve facilities at Tannirbhavi and Sasihitlu beaches, he added.

Surfing

The Sasihitlu beach was being developed as a place for surfing. Apart from hosting the annual surfing competition, the department has proposed to hold more activities at the Sasihitlu beach.

Govt subsidy for resorts

Speaking about the types of tourism in the district, he explained that about 80% of the approx. 1.4-crore annual tourist footfall to Dakshina Kannada was related to religious tourism. It was closely followed by beach tourism. Though neighbouring Kerala has taken a lead in improving facilities for tourism, the State government was coming out with programmes for improving beaches and creating more facilities for stay of tourists.

The government was giving a maximum of Rs. 1.2 crore subsidy for opening resorts and hotels in Mangaluru and Dharmastala, he added.