Karwar: Fisheries, Ports and Inland Water Transport Minister and Uttara Kannada District In-charge Minister Mankal S. Vaidya said a cross-party meeting will be held in Mangaluru under the chairmanship of the Deputy Chief Minister to discuss comprehensive tourism development in Karnataka’s coastal districts.

Presiding over a meeting on coastal tourism development at the Deputy Commissioner’s office here on Wednesday, the Minister said MLAs, MPs, public representatives from all three coastal districts, officials, entrepreneurs and tourism experts will participate in the meeting. The objective is to frame a coastal tourism policy that creates local employment and income opportunities across the 344-km-long coastline from the Goa border to Mangaluru.

He said the meeting would deliberate on providing relaxations in CRZ norms on the lines of Kerala and Goa, and if necessary, a proposal would be sent to the Central Government. The Goa Tourism Minister has also been invited.

Stating that tourism development would not harm the environment, fishermen, farmers or the public, the Minister said investors would be offered land, power, water and other basic infrastructure at concessional rates. He also invited suggestions and project proposals from experts and the public.

MLA Satish Sail stressed the need for CRZ relaxations, tax and power concessions, and a single-window system to attract investors. MLA Bhimanna Naik called for improved access to waterfalls in the Malnad region and better road connectivity.

Tourism experts suggested improving parking facilities, hotels, sound-and-light shows at major locations, homestay approvals, and developing the district’s 15 identified tourism circuits.

Several elected representatives, senior district officials and tourism experts were present.