Mysuru is also known as the ‘Cultural Capital of Karnataka’ famous for its grand palaces, lush gardens, and rich cuisine that attracts millions of tourists each year.To promote this vibrant city further, the government has modified the UDAN Regional Connectivity Scheme to revamp the Mysuru (Mandakalli) Airport to elevate it into an international facility.
Addressing the gathering at the Mysore Travel Mart (MTM-2026) at Jagannatha Centre for Art & Culture (JCAC) in Vijayanagar , Shri Gajendra Singh Shekhawat, Union Cabinet Minister of Culture and Tourism for the Government of India said, “Karnataka could significantly enhance its tourism potential by adopting the national tourism policy and creating a more investment-friendly environment for the hospitality industry.”
Mysuru, with its timeless heritage, culture, wellness traditions and hospitality, truly represents the spirit of India. Karnataka’s diverse tourism landscape from heritage and spirituality to eco tourism and innovation offers limitless opportunities for global travellers and investors alike.
India has very large domestic tourism and put it together with the foreign tourists the numbers are huge. Air travel and spending have increased exponentially and cities like Mysuru must ride on this wave, he said.
Events like Mysore Travel Mart strengthen partnerships, promote sustainable tourism and create new opportunities for youth, entrepreneurs and local communities.
Mysore-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar urged for a close inter-departmental coordination among the officials to ensure that the land acquired for the Mysuru Airport expansion is encumbrance free, so that the project can be completed at the earliest. He stressed on proactively advocating for the development of Mysuru Airport to international standards.
The event was jointly organised by the Mysuru Travels Association (MTA) and the Karnataka Tourism Department.
At a parallel discussion on Mysore Airport - 'Connect Mysore to the World,' P.V. Ushakumari, Director, Mysore Airport, highlighted gaps in tourism infrastructure, particularly the absence of a dedicated travel desk at the Airport. She said that the lack of basic guidance is leaving visitors without reliable information about accommodation and tourist facilities and in some cases, exposing them to fraud.
The Airport Director urged the State Government to address the issue as a priority.
Utsav Agarwal, Director · Bhoruka Fabcons Private Limited says, “Mysore needs great air, road and rail connectivity to attract major industries similar to the way Bangalore has developed. Look at the way all around development happening in Vizak and in Guwahati, Assam, they are getting full support from both the central and state governments.”
“In fact, several foreign businesses have cancelled their plans to set up industries in Mysuru citing lack of proper infrastructure including air connectivity,” he adds.
Airport Revamp To Handle Airbus And Boeing Aircrafts
The blueprint includes a state-of-the-art integrated Domestic and International Terminal, plus a dedicated Cargo Terminal to facilitate local agricultural and industrial exports.
The expansion aims to facilitate operations for narrow-body jet aircraft (such as Airbus A-320s and Boeing 737s) and lay the groundwork for future international status and the runway is being extended from its current 1,740 meters to 2,300 meters to accommodate heavier aircraft.
Land Acquisition & Layouts: Out of the 240 acres required for the project, most land has been acquired by the Karnataka Industrial Areas Development Board (KIADB). As of the latest developments, encumbrance-free handover of a few remaining plots—such as layout land on the Mandakalli side—is actively being fast-tracked by local authorities.
NH-766 Diversion: The diversion of National Highway 766 has received approval, with a revised plan featuring a 3.5-km diversion and a 520-meter underground tunnel.
New Airline Push: Local backing and private investments are growing.Skanjet Aviation has proposed a new base in Mysuru, aiming to use ATR-72 aircraft to connect the city directly to Mumbai, Goa, Mangaluru, Kochi, Chennai, and Hyderabad under regional connectivity initiatives.



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