Bengaluru, Sept. 2 -- Karnataka has cleared a fresh set of hotel projects aimed at expanding accommodation facilities at tourist destinations and encouraging private investment in the state's tourism sector.

At the sixth Empowered Committee meeting of the Karnataka Tourism Policy, chaired by Energy and Tourism Minister K.J. George, approval was granted to 18 projects comprising eight premium and 10 budget hotels.

The 18 projects involve a proposed investment of Rs 314.93 crore and will add 655 rooms to the state's hospitality infrastructure. The projects are expected to generate 1,542 jobs, while subsidies estimated at Rs 47.23 crore were approved under the tourism policy.

The committee also granted in-principle approval to 78 hotel pr...