Summary:
MANGALURU: Riverine and backwater systems could well be the next happening place for tourism promotion in Dakshina Kannada district.Aimed at harnessing tourism potential that these systems offer, district administration is banking on a 2-day river festival from January 12, 2019 to open up a new vista for tourism in the region. Planning will be done keeping in mind the impending general elections during that time, he said. With river front development too an integral part of the Smart City project of the city, Senthil said giving fillip to tourism activities that revolves around the Nethravathi, Phalguni and Shambhavi only makes sense.Keeping water as the central theme of tourism, Senthil said efforts will also be made to make a brand out of surfing. “The success of two international surfing events and third one planned for May 2019, has spurred the need for creating a brand out of surfing event at Sasihithlu,” he said adding every effort is being made to promote infrastructure in the area. The nitty-gritty of this festival is being finalised and details are expected to emerge soon.Hinting at this, deputy commissioner Sasikanth Senthil S said the aim of the river festival is to activate the entire backwater and river system in the district.“The entire tourism focus in the district thus far centres round beaches and temples,” Senthil said, adding the river festival, details of which will be chalked out soon, will strive to shift the focus on water sports such as kayaking, rowing and even stand up paddling in the estuaries.Department of tourism has approved a grant of Rs 30 lakh for the river festival, which will be utilised to create access to the river front, from where such activities can actually take off, Senthil said.Food festival at such pre-designated river fronts, promotion of ferry activities and water sports there, is before the active consideration of core committee on tourism, he said adding a final shape will be given to the ideas mulled at the meeting of this committee.Floating restaurants too are very much part of making use of these systems, Senthil said, adding the tourism department has positively responded to administration’s request to set up floating concrete jetties for this endeavour..