Tourism sector draws Rs 6.25 bn investments during Make in Odisha

Leading hoteliers & hospitality players have pledged Rs 6.25 billion of fresh investments during the biennial investors' conclave- Make in Odisha 2018.

Bhubaneswar-based Mayfair Hotels & Resorts intends to invest Rs 5.25 billion on new properties at Satpada in Puri district and Bhubaneswar.

Mayfair Hotels has also proposed a Mayfair Convention Centre and 250 room business hotel in Bhubaneswar with an investment of Rs three billion. This will be Mayfair's second convention centre in the city boasting of a seating capacity for over 3000 people. 

Similarly, the group has evinced interest to invest in Mayfair Bungalows with an outlay of Rs one billion. This project is meant to be operated by a separate company on the PPP (public-private partnership) mode. The objective is to upgrade and operate the existing government properties providing accommodation facilities- inspection bungalows, forest bungalows and Pathanivas at strategic locations, which will enhance tourist accommodation facilities. 

The proposed luxury golf resort at Satapada equipped with a modern golf course is estimated to cost Rs 1.25 billion. The resort will have accompaniments like helipad and jetty spread over 50 acres of land facing the Sipakuda sea mouth. Besides, the resort ecosystem would be made up by a crafts village with local artisans residing. 

IntelliStay Hotels which runs the Mango brand of hotels in collaboration with Grand Mark Infrastructures plans to establish two-star category hotels to cater to MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, exhibitions) in Bhubaneswar and Konark. It is also mulling to set up eco-tourism resorts at select locations. Total investment on the planned properties is estimated at Rs one billion.

Bigger players in hotel space like Taj Hotels and ITC Group have reaffirmed their commitment on previously announced projects. Welcome Hotels brand chain of the ITC group, Vivanta by Taj and Ramada chain of Wyndham Hotels, all hope to start welcoming guests later next year. Taj Hotels also plans to set up a property under Ginger brand at Kalinganagar. 

“Tourist inflow in the state has been consistently growing at nine per cent compounded annual growth rate (CAGR), with tourist spending growing at 21 per cent CAGR. The state government’s focus on infrastructure development along with its aggressive destination promotion campaigns and packed event calendar including the upcoming Men’s Hockey World Cup for which it is the host partner in the capital city, have further fuelled the tourism potential of the state”, Vishal Dev, secretary (tourism) said at a seminar on tourism investment during the Make in Odisha conclave.

Other hotel investors have also committed to expand their presence in the state. Lemon Tree Group intends to invest in a luxury hotel in Bhubaneswar. Kamat Hotels, which operates properties in Bhubaneswar, Puri and Konark, intends to expand its footprint by building three new properties, besides exploring opportunities to manage ecotourism properties run by the forest & environment department of the state. Likewise, Kabani Tours has expressed its intent to promote community tourism products such as home-stay and camp sites and special projects in heritage walks in the state, besides its plan to invest in training programmes.