Tourism projects worth Rs 150 crore lined up in Odisha

Post finalization of Odisha Tourism policy last year, the state government has received 68 proposals for tourism infrastructure development till date.

"The task force on tourism has received about 68 proposals envisaging combined investment of Rs 100 to 150 crore. Most of the projects relate to construction of hotels including those in five star category. There are also other proposals for deployment of Hovercraft, that will run from Ramchandi to Puri and setting up of a hotel management institute", said Manoranjan Patnaik, Director, Odisha Tourism.

Patnaik was speaking at a ceremony organized by the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) to felicitate newly appointed Tourism minister, Ashok Panda.

"We are considering the proposals and fiscal incentives will be extended to the promoters as envisaged in the tourism policy. After scrutiny, the shortlisted projects will be placed before the single window clearance authority for approval", he stated.

In 2013, as many as 67000 foreign tourists visited the state and the foot fall of domestic tourists in the same year is pegged at 9.9 million. To attract more overseas tourists, the state Tourism department has decided to participate in five international tourism festivals and organize six domestic road shows. The tourism festivals are ITB Berlin, World Travel Market in London, FITUR in Madrid, BIT International Tourism Exchange in Milan and a festival hosted by the United States Tour Operators Association at New York. Within the country, the road shows will be held at Pune, Bangalore, Patna, Vishakhapatnam, Ranchi and Bhopal.

The department has also requested chief executive officer of Sri Lanka Airlines to extend its air services to Bhubaneswar.

"For promoting the Buddhist tourism, we have requested them to have hopping stopover at Bhubaneswar when they are visiting the Bodh Gaya shrine in Bihar. The department is in the process of finalizing a proposal in this regard for forwarding it to the Sri Lanka Airlines", he added.

The state government has allocated Rs 133 crore to the Tourism department in the 2013-14 budget compared Rs 80 crore in the previous year.

"Efforts will be made to develop all tourism places in the state. Expanding the current focus on popular sites like Golden triangle, we must reach out to the places which are not known or lesser known", said state Tourism minister Ashok Panda.

Panda, said a low cost accommodation project is being undertaken on trial basis to house 3000 people free of cost in the ensuing Rathyatra.

He said, to accommodate the expected rush during the Nabakalebar festival of the presiding deities of Puri temple in 2015, there is a need to set up 100 more hotels in Puri and Bhubaneswar.

The minister also emphasized on the opening of a cargo hub at the Biju Patnaik International airport.

JK Mohanty, Chairman (HRAO), pointed out that to compete with the neighbouring states, there is need to construct about 4000 hotel rooms in the star category with a total investment of Rs 1200 crore and 1000 rooms of 5 star category with a combined estimated investment of Rs 1000 crore.

Mohanty suggested that a budget of Rs 30 crore per year should be earmarked for tourism promotion campaigns abroad and other states.

"At least, 500 acres of land in all districts should be identified and allotted to prospective hotel chains", he pleaded.