A meeting was held with Sri B.Nagaraja Shetty, Chairman of Coastal Karnataka Development Authority, Government of Karnataka in the institute premises on 18-8-2009.  He promised to get financial and functional support of State Government to the study centre. Sri N.Vinay Hegde, Chancellor of Nitte University presided over the meeting. He recognized the immense potential for tourism development in Coastal Karnataka. An action plan  was drawn on the role the study centre would take in the development activities of Coastal Karnataka. Dr. M.S.Moodithaya, Director of the institute, Dr. G.V.Joshi, Chairman of the Study Centre and other Professors of the institute participated in the meeting.