Mangaluru : The Tourism Department plans to launch a mobile app on the tourist spots in Dakshina Kannada district, according to Clifford Lobo, Assistant Director, in-charge, Tourism.

Speaking at the World Tourism Day celebration at the University College here on Tuesday, he said that the app should be able to guide tourists comprehensively.

Mr. Lobo said that the department had plans to launch a website on tourism in the district and bring out a brochure with quick response code on which if a mobile camera held, it would show details of places.

He said that it had been planned to develop five beaches in Mangaluru using Union government funds. The Union government had sanctioned Rs. 13.72 crore to the district for tourism development.

Mr. Lobo said that Talapady and Surathkal beaches could be developed as camping beaches with facilities for organising camps and overnight stays. Someshwara beach could be developed as a heritage beach, Ullal as a commercial one with shopping facilities and Sultan Bathery with boating facilities.

A. B. Ibrahim, Deputy Commissioner said that the district administration was planning to organise an investors’ meet on tourism development. A surfing festival would be conducted here next month. Ivan D’Souza, MLC, said that if coastal tourism was to be developed, there was a need to relax coastal regulatory zone regulations. He accused the Regional Transport Authority,

Dakshina Kannada, of not taking interest to ensure that buses operated via prominent beaches in the city.

Though the Union government had given enough funds for tourism development in the district they had not been utilised, he said.

Minister in-charge of Dakshina Kannada B. Ramanath Rai said that there was enough potential in the district for the promotion of tourism. The potential should be exploited, he added.