Govt urged to appoint IAS officer to oversee coastal tourism

September 24, 2011

Mangalore, September 24: A seminar-cum-interaction meet on 'Future of Coastal Tourism' was organised on the eve of World Tourism Day 2011; jointly by the State Dept. of Tourism, DK Zilla Panchayat, Mangalore Association of Coastal Tourism and Pananmbur Beach Tourism Dev. Organisation in the presence of senior officials of the Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) and Deputy Speaker N Yogish Bhat at Hotel Moti Mahal, Falnir here on Saturday.

Dr. Sundar Naik IFS, MD KSTDC informed the select gathering that they were doing a lot of work in the coastal belt with ample help from State Govt. There were tour packages with tour buses plying between Bangalore and Mangalore via Subrahmanya - a tourist hotspot, accommodation at Dharmasthala, Kukke Subrahmanya temples etc. Land is leased out at Kadri, Malpe all for tourist infrastructure as part of tourism initiative. “Sky is the limit that is the kind of work we are proposing to do,” he declared.

According to Dr. Naik interaction and communication is crucial so that tourism dept. could make a note of several projects in the offing. He said his dept. is open to criticism and exhorted the audience to discuss an all-inclusive tourism strategy for the development of the region. There are many issues pertaining to hospitality which needs to be tackled urgently in order to make the coastal belt of Karnataka a popular destination for tourists, he added

The interactive meet threw up several vital suggestions from the stake-holders as also representatives of the tourism industry in the audience. Some of the highpoints to boost tourism were as follows: Operation of cruise ships between Mangalore and Lakshadweep, promotion of water sports and deep-sea diving by Govt., branding Mangalore city on the lines of Mysore and Hampi as also from Kerala. Others urged for proper sanitation facilities, better transportation and logistics, hospitality and transparency in dealing by localities, adequate policing at beaches. Promotion of tourist spots in DK on virtual websites and boards in cities to be both in English and Kannada.

Other proposals were promotion of aqua-marine tourism, home-stays, up-gradation of health tourism, eco-friendly measures in form of proper waste management, setting up of information desks/centers - 'Kiosks,' attractively designed brochures and detailed maps for tourists. One of the most important suggestions made was to have an IAS officer to oversee coastal tourism, as a single-window clearance to give proper direction to all tourism related initiatives. Erold a 92.7 FM RJ suggested an open bus to take tourists on sight-seeing tours as also trekking adventures.

Mr Yogish Bhat in his speech declared that the audience had given very important suggestions. He said he would definitely consider the suggestion for an IAS officer overseeing tourism, seriously and first try it out in three districts. With regard to all problems cited by the members he said his govt. would look into the same and come up with solutions. According to him builders, contractors, architects, general public all need to apply their minds together and take responsibility for developing tourism in the state.

Bhat then went on to reel out the amounts sanctioned by the State Govt. with regard to infrastructure and tourism related projects totaling to Rs. 24.30 Crores. He also spoke about night-safari, cruise tourism, health tourism and about the world-class golf course coming-up at Tannir Bhavi with Private Public Participation (PPP) and side by side an international cricket stadium. Bhat concluded with the optimistic words on tourism in State “Future is brilliant and this prediction is very true”

Others present at the meet were Yathish Baikampady, Manohar Shetty, Lekshmi Kumaran, Prakash (Assistant Director – KSTDC) and others.

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No cases yet, but vigilance high: Karnataka braces for Nipah threat

News Network

February 3,2026

Bengaluru: Following reports of fresh Nipah virus (NiV) cases in West Bengal and heightened vigilance across parts of Southeast Asia, the Karnataka Health Department has placed the state on high alert and activated emergency preparedness protocols.

Health officials said enhanced surveillance measures have been initiated after two healthcare workers in Barasat, West Bengal, tested positive for the virus earlier this month. While no cases have been reported in Karnataka so far, authorities said the state’s past exposure to Nipah outbreaks and high inter-state mobility warranted preventive action.

Officials have directed district health teams to intensify monitoring, particularly at hospitals and points of entry, and to ensure early detection and isolation of suspected cases.

High Mortality Virus with Multiple Transmission Routes

Nipah virus is a zoonotic disease that can spread from animals to humans and has a reported fatality rate ranging between 60 and 75 per cent. Fruit bats, also known as flying foxes, are the natural reservoirs of the virus and can transmit it by contaminating food sources with saliva or urine.

Known modes of transmission include:

•   Contaminated food: Consumption of fruits partially eaten by bats or raw date-palm sap
•   Animal contact: Exposure to infected pigs or other animals
•   Human-to-human transmission: Close contact with body fluids of infected persons, particularly in healthcare settings

Symptoms and Disease Progression

The incubation period typically ranges from 4 to 14 days, though delayed onset has also been reported. Early symptoms often resemble common viral infections, making prompt clinical suspicion critical.

•   Initial symptoms: Fever, headache, body aches, fatigue, sore throat
•   Progressive symptoms: Drowsiness, disorientation, altered mental state
•   Severe stage: Seizures, neck stiffness and acute encephalitis, which can rapidly progress to coma

Public Health Advisory

The Health Department has issued precautionary guidelines urging the public to adopt risk-avoidance practices to prevent any local spillover.

Do’s
•   Wash fruits thoroughly before consumption
•   Drink boiled and cooled water
•   Use protective equipment while handling livestock
•   Maintain strict hand hygiene

Don’ts
•   Avoid fruits found on the ground or showing bite marks
•   Do not consume beverages made from raw tree sap, including toddy
•   Avoid areas with dense bat populations
•   Do not handle sick or dead animals

Preparedness Measures

Officials confirmed that isolation wards are being readied in major government hospitals and that medical staff are being sensitised to identify early warning signs.

“There is no cause for panic, but there is a need for heightened vigilance,” a senior health official said, adding that there is currently no approved vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for Nipah, and care remains largely supportive.

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