Folk Tourism Opportunities in Coastal Karnataka – A Study

Abstract

Folklore is the traditional knowledge, culture and practices of commoners’ mainly rural inhabitants which are passed orally from individual to individual. Folklore is the mother root of a nation’s culture. Coastal Karnataka has a rich folklore repository in the form of ballads, riddles, legends, stories, proverbs, dance forms, customs, cuisines, festivals, sports and medicinal remedies. Every year it grabs number of tourists towards it. This paper is an attempt to study on folk tradition of coastal Karnataka and to portray the region as cultural tourism destination. The paper also aims at to identify the folk tourism opportunities the need. The Coastal Karnataka has plenty to offer to the tourists. The physiological characteristics of the region blended with it rich heritage culture of indigenous communities makes it as heavenly destination for visitors. A planned sustainable tourism practices in this region stimulate the tourist inflow and able to maintain the essence of cultural glory. Keywords: - Coastal Karnataka, cultural tourism, folk culture, indigenous community and sustainable tourism.