BHUBANESWAR: Minister for Tourism and Culture Ashok Chandra Panda on Sunday called on global tour operators to take advantage of unexplored ecotourism destinations and wildlife sanctuaries in the State apart from the world-class monuments and heritage sites.
Inaugurating the three-day Odisha Travel Bazaar, a first of its kind initiative by the State Government in association with Odisha chapter of FICCI, Panda said the focus is now on wildlife sites where tented accommodations have been set up and amenities developed to woo tourists.
“The Forest Department has taken several initiatives to develop the ecotourism and wildlife sites. We have been trying our level best to ensure that the State gets its due attention, its potential is rightly focused and we are taken note of in tourism map,” he said.
Odisha, the Minister said, has enacted a progressive tourism policy and it is considered as one of the best in the country. Safety and security of tourists are the priority areas for which eight tourist police stations have been set up and patrolling intensified., Panda added. On international connectivity, Panda said, Air Asia, which has started direct flights to Malaysia, will soon establish another link to Bangkok from Bhubaneswar.
The Tourism Minister, however, lamented the Centre’s apathy for not choosing Lalitgiri, Ratnagiri and Udayagiri diamond triangle in the Swadesh Darshan scheme. Odisha has a rich Buddhist heritage, which needs to be well protected and get due attention, he added.
Commenting on various opportunities the State is offering, Tourism Secretary Mona Sharma said since the sector has been taken as a priority sector, the Government is providing attractive discounts to investors to develop tourism infrastructure, Development Commissioner R Balakrishnan said there have been concerted efforts to create a synergy and convergence of resources to showcase the State’s potential in tourism sector.
Chairman Tourism Panel of FICCI, Odisha, JK Mohanty said the State is ready to take a leap forward since it has international connectivity now. It is a hidden treasure which is opening up to the world, he said.
Several tour operators from different South-East Asian countries and other parts of the world participated in the event. The event which is aimed at showcasing and selling tour packages to foreign travel agents will conclude on Tuesday.