The Kannur International Airport in northern Kerala, which is scheduled to be opened in September 2018, is expected to be beneficial for the Karnataka tourism industry.
Top tourism destinations of Karnataka, like Mysuru and Kodagu (Coorg) are likely to be benefited by the new airport as they are within easy reach from Kannur. The new airport is just 58 km from Virajpet, about 90 km from Madikeri and 158 km from Mysuru.
The airport will serve as a channel for tourism development since Kodagu is closer to Kannur and thus improve connectivity between the two cities. Tour operators of Kodagu and Mysuru feel the new airport will increase the tourist footfall in the region.
“Once functional, Kannur airport will be more accessible to tourists who wish to visit Mysore and Madikeri, than the Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport. Furthermore, roads in the Kodagu route are better than the highway of Bengaluru, when considering the heavy traffic,” said the president of a Travels Association.
Madikeri- Kodagu
“This airport will help the tourism industry in Kodagu to flourish, since it is already a tourist destination with many home-stays and popular hill resorts. Now, Karnataka’s tourism department should make use of this airport to improve the tourism industry,” he added
The residents of Kodagu region feel the new airport will help export of commercial crops grown in Kodagu district and will also help the NRI from Kodagu to travel abroad.
“We are expecting a good tourist footfall from Kannur airport. Many in Kodagu feel that this airport will develop travel and tourism industries of the district,” said Ranjan Kushalappa, home-stay owner in Virajpet.
Other than Mysuru and Kodagu, flyers from Chikkamagalur and Hassan districts are also expected to be benefited by the new airport.
