30 lakh people in Karnataka’s tourism sector lost jobs due to Covid-19: CT Ravi

News Network

August 28, 2020

Bengaluru, Aug 28: About 30 lakh people in the tourism sector lost their jobs across Karnataka due to the COVID-19 pandemic since mid-March, Karnataka Tourism Minister CT Ravi said on Thursday.

"The coronavirus spread has taken away the livelihood of about 30 lakh people since it broke out in the state in mid-March and rendered them jobless, as the pandemic-induced lockdown and its extension with restrictions crippled the tourism sector," Ravi told reporters in Bengaluru.

Sudden enforcement of lockdown since March 25 and its extension till May 31 and continued restrictions on travel, transport and gatherings in public places to contain the disease plunged the flow of domestic and overseas tourists to the southern state for the first time in many years.

"As one of the largest sectors to provide the higest number of direct and indirect jobs after agriculture and construction across the country, tourism has suffered the most due to the pandemic," lamented Ravi.

Among those who suffered mounting losses are hundreds of tourist operators, taxi drivers, hotel owners, tourist guides and all those in the supply chain, as tourist spots and destinations remained out of bounds.

The minister hoped once the normalcy is restored with road, rail and flight services resuming fully, the tourism sector would bounce back and those who are in distress would get back their jobs.

"Once the industry recovers in the post-Covid situation, I am sure those who lost their jobs temporarily will get back to work as tourism will revive gradually," said Ravi.

Admitting that the pace of revival was slow, the minister said that though jungle lodges and resorts of the state tourism department have been attracting guests since Unlock 2.0 began on July 1, the state tourism development corporation and private hotels have seen only 10% business over the last two months.

"As there is no let-up in Covid spread and people are wary of the virus infecting them, travelling and tourism will pick up after normal life is restored fully," said Ravi.

The state government is framing a new tourism policy to increase the footfalls by four times the number in the pre-COVID times.

"The draft of the new tourism policy will be tabled for approval in the ensuing Assembly session starting September 21," added Ravi.

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‘Nothing for Karnataka’: DKS slams Union Budget, flags Bengaluru neglect

News Network

February 1,2026

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday criticised the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming it offered no tangible benefit to the state.

Though he said he was yet to study the budget in detail, Shivakumar asserted that Karnataka had gained little from it. “There is no benefit for our state from the central budget. I was observing it. They have now named a programme after Mahatma Gandhi, after repealing the MGNREGA Act that was named after him,” he said.

Speaking to reporters here, the Deputy Chief Minister demanded the restoration of MGNREGA, and made it clear that the newly enacted rural employment scheme — VB-G RAM G — which proposes a 60:40 fund-sharing formula between the Centre and the states, would not be implemented in Karnataka.

“I don’t see any major share for our state in this budget,” he added.

Shivakumar, who also holds charge of Bengaluru development, said there were high expectations for the city from the Union Budget. “The Prime Minister calls Bengaluru a ‘global city’, but what has the Centre done for it?” he asked.

He also drew attention to the problems faced by sugar factories, particularly those in the cooperative sector, alleging a lack of timely decisions and support from the central government.

Noting that the Centre has the authority to fix the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, Shivakumar said the Union government must take concrete steps to protect farmers’ interests.

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