The association says that the initiative aims to unite restaurateurs and hospitality stakeholders across Karnataka under one platform
The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has expanded its presence in Karnataka as it has officially set up the NRAI Mangaluru and Western Karnataka Chapter on Thursday. The association says that the new chapter will strengthen the region’s food service ecosystem, boost hospitality-led growth and position Coastal Karnataka as an emerging culinary and tourism destination.
NRAI added that Karnataka’s food services and hospitality sector continues to witness strong growth, driven by increasing tourism, urbanisation, rising disposable incomes and evolving consumer preferences. Mangaluru and the larger Western Karnataka region have emerged as important hospitality hubs with a rapidly growing presence of restaurants, cafés, bars, cloud kitchens and tourism-linked establishments.
“Mangaluru and Western Karnataka today represent one of the most promising emerging hospitality markets in the country. With the launch of this chapter, we aim to bring together restaurants, cafés, cloud kitchens, and hospitality businesses under one unified platform. This chapter will help strengthen industry collaboration, support entrepreneurs, address operational challenges, and further promote the region’s unique culinary identity at a larger national level,” said Prashanth Rao Aroor, Chapter Head, NRAI Mangaluru and Western Karnataka
According to tourism data, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi together attracted over 11 crore domestic tourists in recent years, with Coastal Karnataka accounting for nearly 10 to 15 per cent of Karnataka’s total tourist footfall, the association added.
“Karnataka has always been one of India’s most progressive hospitality markets, and Mangaluru’s culinary culture is truly distinctive. From its rich seafood traditions to its rapidly evolving dining ecosystem, the region has immense growth potential. With the launch of the Mangaluru & Western Karnataka Chapter, NRAI further strengthens its commitment towards enabling regional restaurant ecosystems, supporting local entrepreneurs, and driving collaborative industry growth,” stated Pranav Rungta, NRAI Vice President.
