KITE second edition inaugurated after a 7-year hiatus

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah promotes tourism in Karnataka, emphasizing the importance of showcasing culture and welcoming visitors with pride.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Thursday appealed to citizens to promote tourism in the State with pride. He was speaking at the inauguration of Karnataka International Tourism Expo (KITE) 2025.

“The people of Karnataka should be the tourism ambassadors of the State. They should warmly welcome visitors and showcase our culture with pride,” he said. He also reaffirmed that the government was committed to providing all the opportunities for private investors for ease of business in the tourism sector.

“We have allocated ₹440 crore for tourism in the last two years. We recently also launched the Tourism Policy 2025–29 for which the budget is ₹1,350 crore. It will lay the foundation for both innovation and responsible tourism. As a government, we recognise the immense potential of the tourism sector in driving Karnataka’s economic progress. So, we have taken steps to ensure that Karnataka remains a premium travel destination,” Mr. Siddaramaiah said.

The second edition of KITE is being held between February 26 and 28 after seven years. On February 27 and 28, business meetings will be held at Bangalore International Exhibition Centre. The first edition of KITE was held in 2018.

The event aims to bring together tourism and hospitality industry stakeholders from India and abroad and provide them with B2B opportunities. Along with 150 stakeholders from Karnataka, 400 buyers from India and abroad will participate.

The Minister of Tourism, Law and Parliamentary Affairs H. K. Patil called on the industry stakeholders to lead the way forward during the next edition of KITE. “I extend a call to industry stakeholders to continue curating unforgettable experiences for tourists,” he said.

Around 30 crore domestic tourists and 4.85 lakh foreign tourists came to Karnataka in 2024. “We aim to attract 48 crore domestic tourists and 20 lakh foreign tourists by the year 2029,” said Salma K. Fahim, principal secretary, Tourism Department.