Mangaluru to host helitourism, seaplane services soon

Mangaluru: Helitourism (Helicopter tourism) and seaplane services could become a reality in coastal Karnataka as a team of experts from Bengaluru are already conducting surveys in the city for that purpose.

“If seaplanes can be accommodated in the 320 kilometres of the State’s coast then Mangaluru could be developed as a hub for further connecting the coast with the country,” said Tourism Minister CP Yogeshwar during his recent visit to the city.

The district administration had issued a detailed report to the minister as a result of which a team of technical experts has started surveying in Mangaluru.

The team has already visited the Maryhill helipad, Kadri park and other areas for helitourism. They have opined that they are checking for places that would be very near the highway and in the proximity of the city.

They added that another team will be arriving in the city soon to conduct a detailed survey and finalize the project.

Helitourism will help facilitate tourists to Kollur, Madikeri, Chikkamagaluru, Dharmasthala and other parts of Kerala.

Initial surveys have also been conducted for the seaplane project on the Gurupur river as the river is very near to the Mangaluru International Airport.