Mysore: The city of palaces, becoming favorite 'tourist destination' in the southern parts of the country has surpassed 1.5 million tourist target set for 2010. State Tourism Department sources told that with overwhelming response the authorities have set a new target of five million visitors by 2020. The heritage city was also high on the agenda of domestic tourist and was among the most preferred destination for all seasons and has nearly 2.6 million visitors each year.

Though the target was 1.5 million by 2010, the city was inching towards the three million mark way ahead of the deadline. Assistant Director of Tourism Mr N Jayaram said the Mysore city had nearly 180 to 200 hotels across and together has 2000 rooms.

However, the authorities were convinced that they could not sustain the tourist inflow unless accommodation capacity was enhanced. The authorities have projected requirement of nearly 1000 new hotel rooms to sustain the projected boom in tourism in the coming years, he added.

Despite recessionary trends last year and the greater part of this year, the city has witnessed a 25 per cent increase in the number of tourists visiting the region compared to 2007, he said.