Bengaluru, (IANS) : Karnataka on Monday launched ‘Prathama’ — an online platform to collect, collate and disseminate information on the tourism sector for attracting more tourists to the southern state.

“Besides providing basic information, the platform will be used to plan and implement projects by the department,” state Tourism Minister Priyank Khrarge told reporters here.

Developed with a view to having a unified database, the platform will have information natural, cultural and man-made tourism spots in the state, spanning forests, hill-stations, temples, forts and beaches.

“The resource inventory will have tourism infrastructure such as hotels, home-stays, heritage locations, transport and transport enablers,” said Kharge on the occasion, marking the World Tourism Day.

As the state tourism department portal, the platform will provide information on facilities created for supporting tourists such public sanitation, information kiosks, parking, security and signage.

“The portal will also have information on people/communities involved in the tourism activities like cultural performers, artists, craftsmen, wild-life/temple guides and historians,” noted Kharge.

The platform will capture data on tourists visiting the tourism spot/destination.

The portal will be used for registration of homestays. The homestay owner can apply online to register with the department. The process will be carried out online with the homestay owner being intimated on each stage of the process through auto-generated SMS and e-mail.

“We aim to usher in greater transparency in its functioning and carry out project planning in a data-driven scientific manner,” added Kharge.