Karnataka would promote its scenic coffee-growing districts in the Malnad region as tourist spots during the India International Coffee Festival in Bengaluru from January 16 to 19, Tourism Minister Priyanka Kharge said on Thursday.
“We hope to leverage the fest to promote Coorg, Chikkamagaluru and Sakleshpur as tourist destinations in view of their scenic landscape, unique culture and cuisine,” said Kharge at a preview of the biennial seventh edition of the fest.
The Tourism Department will develop the ecosystem for experimental tourism through coffee trails and homestays.
The coffee districts are located in the rich bio-diverse Western Ghats of the southern state, about 250 km from Bengaluru.
Karnataka is India’s largest coffee producing state, contributing to nearly 70 per cent of the total production. Arabica and robusta are the two mostly-grown coffee beans in the region.
