RTI for Karnataka Tourism Department: KSTDC, Hampi, Coorg & Mysuru

Karnataka is one of India's most tourism-rich states, drawing tens of millions of visitors annually to its UNESCO World Heritage Sites, hill-station homestays, grand cultural festivals, and Western Ghats adventure corridors. The Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation (KSTDC) sits at the centre of this ecosystem — managing a network of Mayura brand hotels and resorts, coordinating tourism infrastructure projects, and interfacing with heritage authorities across the state. The Right to Information Act, 2005 is a legally enforceable tool for citizens, journalists, researchers, and tourism stakeholders to access KSTDC contracts, Hampi heritage-site expenditure records, Coorg homestay licensing data, Mysuru Dasara spending accounts, and adventure tourism permit registers.

What Information Can You Seek?

Karnataka's tourism administration generates a wide range of public records that citizens are entitled to access:

KSTDC Contracts and Hotel Operations: KSTDC manages Mayura-branded properties at Hampi (Mayura Bhuvaneshwari), Badami (Mayura Chalukya), Mysuru, Kudremukh, Dandeli, and several other locations. RTI can reveal tender documents for hotel renovation or outsourcing contracts, amounts awarded to private operators, revenue-sharing arrangements, occupancy data, maintenance expenditure, and the net financial position of KSTDC properties.

Hampi UNESCO World Heritage Site: The Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) and the Department of Tourism jointly manage India's largest open-air heritage site — the Vijayanagara Empire ruins spread across 4,187 hectares near Hospet in Vijayanagara district. RTI can uncover funds allocated for site conservation and visitor infrastructure, entry-ticket revenue collected, visitor arrival statistics, contractor details for infrastructure works, and coordination records between HWHAMA, the Archaeological Survey of India, and the state Tourism Department.

Coorg (Kodagu) and Chikmagaluru Homestay Licensing: Coorg — Karnataka's plantation tourism capital — hosts hundreds of coffee-estate homestays, pepper-and-spice farm resorts, and river-rafting camps in its mist-covered hills. The iconic Orange County Resort and similar luxury properties operate alongside hundreds of small family-run homestays. RTI can reveal the number of homestay and resort permits issued in Kodagu district, application-to-approval timelines, complaints against unlicensed operators, and fee collection records.

Mysuru Dasara Festival Expenditure: Mysuru's 10-day Dasara festival — one of India's most celebrated cultural events, anchored by the illuminated Mysuru Palace and the golden-howdah elephant procession — draws several million visitors and involves substantial public spending. RTI can expose contracts awarded to event management companies, stage and sound system costs, entertainment booking fees, amounts spent on the Jamboo Savari procession, and audit findings.

Adventure Tourism Permits: Karnataka's adventure tourism sector spans river rafting on the Kali and Bhadra rivers near Dandeli and Bhadra Tiger Reserve, trekking in the Western Ghats including the Kudremukh and Coorg trails, and wildlife safaris in Nagarhole and Bandipur Tiger Reserves. RTI can access the number of permits issued for rafting, trekking, and safari operations; safety inspection records; incident or accident reports filed with the Tourism Department; and action taken against operators who violated safety norms.

Badami Cave Temples and Jog Falls Tourism Infrastructure: The Badami Cave Temples (6th-century Chalukya rock-cut temples in Bagalkot district) and Jog Falls (one of India's highest plunge waterfalls, in Shivamogga district) receive substantial Tourism Department infrastructure investment. RTI can reveal the status of viewing platforms, rest shelters, sanitation facilities, and visitor centre construction contracts.

How to File RTI

Step 1 — Identify the correct public authority. KSTDC (headquartered in Bengaluru) handles RTI for its own hotels, contracts, and corporate operations. The Commissioner of Tourism handles policy, guide licensing, and Central scheme implementation. For Hampi-specific site management, file with HWHAMA as a separate public authority. For Coorg district-level permits, file with the Deputy Director of Tourism, Kodagu district.

Step 2 — Draft a specific application. Name the exact location (e.g., Hampi, Mysuru, Kodagu), the financial year, the specific contract or permit type, and the precise information you seek. Vague applications produce incomplete responses.

Step 3 — File online or by post. Submit through the RTI Online portal at rtionline.gov.in or send by registered post to the SPIO at KSTDC, Bengaluru, enclosing a crossed Indian Postal Order for ₹10. BPL cardholders may apply free of charge with a copy of their BPL card.

Step 4 — Track your application. Note your acknowledgement number. The CPIO must respond within 30 days of receipt under Section 7(1) of the RTI Act.

Key RTI Act Provisions

The Karnataka Tourism Department, KSTDC, and HWHAMA are all public authorities under Section 2(h) of the RTI Act, 2005, legally required to respond to citizen applications.

• Section 6: Right to file an RTI application; no reason need be given.
• Section 7(1): Response must be provided within 30 days of receipt.
• Section 7(1) proviso: Response within 48 hours for life/liberty matters.
• Section 20: Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) may impose a penalty of ₹250 per day (up to ₹25,000) on a defaulting CPIO.

First Appeal

If the CPIO fails to respond within 30 days, or the response is incomplete or improperly refused, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act with the First Appellate Authority — typically the Managing Director of KSTDC or a designated senior officer — within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable. No fee is payable. Attach copies of the original application and any CPIO response received.

Second Appeal

If the First Appellate Authority also fails to respond satisfactorily, file a Second Appeal under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act with the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) in Bengaluru, within 90 days of the FAA's decision or the expiry of the FAA's response period.

Important: The correct second appellate body is the KIC — not the Central Information Commission (CIC). The CIC has jurisdiction only over Central Government bodies. Karnataka Tourism Department, KSTDC, and HWHAMA are Karnataka state bodies; their second appeals go to KIC. An exception applies if your RTI concerns the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) — which manages certain centrally protected monuments at Hampi — because ASI is a Central body and its second appeal goes to the CIC.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which office handles RTI for Karnataka Tourism Department? The State Public Information Officer at KSTDC headquarters in Bengaluru handles RTI for tourism matters. For site-specific queries about Hampi, file with the Hampi World Heritage Area Management Authority (HWHAMA) as well.

Can RTI reveal KSTDC hotel contract details in Karnataka? Yes. RTI can uncover tender documents, awarded amounts, vendor selection criteria, maintenance standards, and revenue sharing details for KSTDC properties at Hampi, Mysuru, Badami, and Kudremukh.

How can RTI help homestay owners in Coorg with licensing issues? RTI can reveal licensing criteria, fees, number of licences issued in Kodagu district, complaints against unlicensed operators, and action taken — helping both homestay owners and tourists understand compliance requirements.

What is the first appeal process for Karnataka Tourism RTI? If no reply is received within 30 days, file a First Appeal under Section 19(1) of the RTI Act within 30 days of the date of decision or expiry of the 30-day response period, whichever is applicable, with the First Appellate Authority (Managing Director of KSTDC or designated officer) in the same department.

Where do I file a second appeal for Karnataka Tourism RTI? Second appeals under Section 19(3) of the RTI Act go to the Karnataka Information Commission (KIC) in Bengaluru, not the Central Information Commission.

Can RTI reveal Mysuru Dasara spending details? Yes. RTI is very effective for examining Dasara event contracts, amounts paid to event management companies, stage and decoration costs, entertainment fees, and whether proper tendering processes were followed.