Saturday, January 5, 2008

Pitch For Home Stay In Arecanut Plantations

Mangalore: Taking cue from the successof home stay facility in Kodagu district, the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) is planning to popularise the concept in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts.

The chamber, which has begun consultations with farmers in the district in this regard, is planning to hold a seminar on tourism development to draw a road map.

K. Narasimha Prabhu, President of KCCI, told Business Line that the State Government intends to support ‘home stay’ facilities in estate houses of arecanut and coffee growers in the State.

Some farmers in Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts have big houses in the midst of arecanut plantations. He said that some farmers in Puttur and Sullia taluks of the Dakshina Kannada district have shown interest to provide such a facility to tourists.

In a way, such a move may help promote arecanut cultivation, he said. Added to this, home stay facilities will help generate additional revenue to arecanut growers.

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Prabhu said KCCI, in association with the Dakshina Kannada district administration and the Karnataka Tourism Department, will organise a one-day seminar on tourism development of Dakshina Kannada and Udupi districts on January 21.

Officials of the Tourism Department, tour operators, travel agents, and hospitality and home stay service providers will participate in the seminar. Based on the feedback at the seminar, a tourism week will be organised in February, he added.

M. Srinivasa Achar, President of All-India Areca Growers’ Association, told Business Line that home stay facilities are welcome, provided they do not damage the culture of the region.

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