Odisha commissions study to raise tourist footfalls

In an effort to increase the tourist inflow into the State, Odisha Tourism has commissioned a study that will focus on emerging destinations and identity countries from where it can get travellers.
The study will be jointly carried out by apex industry body FICCI and BSE-SME-listed Majestic Research Services and Solutions Ltd (MRSS India).
The study, titled 'Odisha Tourism: The Emerging Destination of India, both for inbound and domestic tourism - A road map' - will be released on the eve of the state Travel Mart proposed to be held later this year.
The mandate will also include a white paper on new emerging and existing destinations of Odisha and the commensurate potential countries from where the State could expect foreign tourist inflow.

"This is one more feather in our cap after being associated with Great Indian Travel Bazar, India Inbound MICE Tourism 2016, Uttar Pradesh Tourism Mart and very recently with MP Tourism.
"We are optimistic the inputs from the proposed report will aid Odisha Tourism to attract more foreign tourists and increase their pie in the domestic circuit too," MRSS India Chairman Raj Sharma said in a statement here.
The dynamic topographical and vegetational strength of Odisha have combined to extract some of the most stunning destinations. These holiday spots not only offer a visual feast for the untapped inquisitive visitors but also educative and culturally pleasing insight into one of the oldest civilisations of the world, statement said.

The travel and tourism sector in India contributes 7 per cent, or Rs 90,000 crore, to the GDP and supports 4 crore jobs, as per the last available data.