The Govt. of Odisha has become quite aggressive to promote the state as a major tourism destination. The Govt has been active on developing tourism infrastructure and promoting its tourism products.
“Odisha has been taking focused strides to develop and introduce several niche tourism experiences. We have identified 17 priority destinations encompassing beaches, biodiversity zones, heritage monuments and areas of religious and cultural importance for integrated master-planning based development,” Naveen Patnaik, Chief Minister, Odisha said while inaugurating the 4th edition of Odisha Travel Bazaar.
With products which are centered around key tourism offerings to match global standards, Odisha will be able to attract not just the finest brands in business of travel and hospitality but also tourists looking for experientials that are bespoke with a fresh perspective, he said.
The Bazaar was organized by the State Tourism department in association with Federation of Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).
The Chief Minister said his government is working tirelessly towards enriching the tourism experience in the State by encouraging investments and enterprises in niche segments such as houseboat tourism, glamping, water-based adventure, camping and caravan tourism, heritage palace home stays and many more.
Patnaik iterated that in the recent times Odisha has evolved into the sports capital of India and has been hosting international marquee events such as the recently concluded FIFA Under 17 Women’s World Cup and now has the rare opportunity of hosting FIH Hockey Men’s World Cup for the second consecutive time in Bhubaneswar and Rourkela in January 2023. Highlighting on the many tourism offerings Odisha has to offer, the Chief Minister welcomed the tourism fraternity and sought their active contribution in marketing the state.
Deliberating on the diverse tourism offerings of the state, Odisha Tourism Minister Aswini Kumar Patra said that the state has seen unprecedented growth in the recent years with respect to creation of tourism infrastructure and substantial increase in budget for development of tourism.
Surendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Department of Tourism, Govt. of Odisha said, “Odisha as a state has many things to offer for all tourists. We are probably the only state in the country that increased its forest cover in last two decades. The state’s infrastructure is well developed keeping in sync with the potential of these destinations.”
During the event, Patra launched Z-cards, a pocket size mini brochure that showcases 15 different tourist circuits comprising culture, heritage, beaches, wildlife, etc. A cultural programme showcasing Odisha’s performing arts such as Odissi and Sambalpuri folk dance was organized post the interactive session.
The Bazaar received huge response with 83 buyers from cities like Aurangabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chandrapur, Chennai, Dehradun, Guwahati, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kochi, Kolkata, Ludhiana, Mangalgiri, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nasik, New Delhi and NCR, Panjim, Pune, Raipur, Rohtak, Siliguri, Surendra Nagar, Trivandrum, Varanasi and Visakhapatnam participated in the event. The event also welcomed 25 foreign tour operators from eight countries.
Dr. Lenin Mohanty, Chairman, Odisha Tourism Development Corporation; JK Mohanty, CMD, Swosti Group of Hotels were also present on the occasion. Sachin Ramachandra Jadhav, Additional Secretary – Tourism, gave a presentation on Odisha’s tourism profile and potential.
Odisha To Develop Master Plan For 17 Tourism Sites
