In support of United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation, World Tourism Day (WTD) 2013 was celebrated under the theme ‘Tourism and Water: Protecting our Common Future,’ under the aegis of Mysore Travel Agents Association (MTAA) in city this morning.

Members of MTAA, who assembled at the City Railway Station at about 7.30 am, welcomed the tourists to city by offering chocolates and rose.

An information kiosk is being set up for a day at the Railway Station by MTAA to mark the occasion which was inaugurated by SWR Senior Div. Commercial Manager K. Anil Kumar. The kiosk will provide information to tourists besides giving them brochures of tourist spots, maps and details of Mysore city.

Anil Kumar, speaking on the occasion, said that Mysore, which is a tourist hub, has been attracting more and more tourists every year, increasing the number of train commuters especially during Dasara. He said an additional train would be run if required during the festivities.

Later, the celebration was formally inaugurated by Prof. Nagapathi, Director, Mahajana Tourism Development Institute, at the North Gate of the Palace.

B.S. Prashanth, President, MTAA, said that tourism in city was neglected and called upon the authorities to promote the same. On the occasion, Traffic Police Constables Mahadev and Muneer Ahmed and tourist vehicle drivers Prabhakar and Mahesh Babu were felicitated.

About 150 persons including folk troupes of Kamsale, Kunitha, Pooja Kunitha, Dollu Kunitha, Tibetan music troupe took out a procession from Kote Anjaneya Swamy Temple, passing through Clock Tower, Gandhi Square, Dufferin Clock Tower, Devaraj Urs Road, JLB road and culminated at Railway Station.

Shivalingappa, Deputy Director, Karnataka Tourism, Mysore, C.A. Jayakumar, former President of MTAA, Shanthinath, Founder President, Ashok, Vice- President, Ravi, Secretary and others were present.

Courtesy : Star Of Mysore