Karnataka to Launch 'Active Karnataka' Adventure Tourism Initiative on Sept 27
Karnataka Tourism Department will launch 'Active Karnataka – Run, Ride, Surf and Explore' on World Tourism Day, linking sporting events with tourism experiences.
The Karnataka Tourism Department will launch a new sports and adventure tourism initiative, 'Active Karnataka – Run, Ride, Surf and Explore', on September 27 to mark World Tourism Day. The programme is designed to give sports enthusiasts a platform to take part in adventure activities while discovering the state's tourism destinations.
Announcing the plan, Minister of Energy and Tourism K.J. George said the initiative seeks to connect major sporting events in Karnataka with tourism experiences, creating fresh visitor offerings and generating opportunities to strengthen local economies.
In its first phase, the department will sign agreements with leading sports event organisers to link marathons, cycling events, triathlons and other endurance events with nearby tourism destinations. The focus areas include Bengaluru, Mysuru, Malnad, coastal Karnataka, Gokarna and Hampi, among others.
The second phase will bring surfing, kayaking, water sports, trail running, cycling and other adventure activities under a state-wide Sports and Adventure Tourism Calendar.
Mr. George said participants should not return home merely as competitors. "We want their families and friends to experience various tourism options in Karnataka as tourists. Ultimately, we want them to 'Come for adventure sports, Stay for Karnataka'," he said, adding that the approach would help build the local economy and generate employment in tourist places through hotels, tour guides, taxi and cab operators.
The department is currently preparing two- to three-day destination itineraries covering Bengaluru, Mysuru, the coastal region and other locations. These itineraries list accommodation options, local cuisine, heritage, culture and other tourism experiences around sporting events.
Tourism Secretary Ram Prasath Manohar said the department will first enter into an agreement with NEB Sports to develop and promote marathon, cyclathon and triathlon events under the initiative. NEB Sports, along with the Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports and the Tourism Department, will organise the L'Étape cycling series for the first time in India in Mysuru on October 4. "Our objective is to connect every major sporting event with its destination experience," he said.
A senior department official noted that most lodges and hotels in Mysuru remain vacant except during Dasara, causing losses to the hotel industry and contributing to unemployment. Planning such events alongside tourist destinations like Mysuru would encourage participants to stay for more than a day in cities such as Mysuru or Bengaluru, the official said.
Separately, the department has received more than 160 nominations for the Karnataka Tourism Awards 2026 from individuals, entrepreneurs and organisations across various categories in 31 districts. For the first time, the awards will be presented on September 27 in coordination with the Karnataka Tourism Society. Thirty-five awards have been instituted across five categories: Accommodation and Hospitality; Tour Operators and Travel Agents; Events, Venues and Infrastructure; Education, Publications and Individuals; and Sustainability and Rural Tourism. Entries will be judged on parameters such as quality of service, sustainable practices and contribution to local communities.