Konark to be developed as iconic tourist site: Centre

The Centre will develop Konark in Odisha and the Statue of Unity in Gujarat as "iconic tourist sites", taking the total number of such places to 19, Union Tourism Minister Prahlad Singh Patel said in Rajya Sabha on Tuesday.

The minister was responding to a supplementary query raised by Biju Janata Dal (BJD) leader Sasmit Patra during the Question Hour in the Upper House of Parliament.

Responding to Patra who asked when Odisha would be included among the 17 "iconic tourist sites", Patel said, "The member may not be aware that yesterday during the discussion on Tourism Ministry in Lok Sabha, I had mentioned that besides 17 sites, Gujarat and Konark would also be developed as iconic tourist sites."