BHUBANESWAR: The tourist footfall in the State is showing an increasing trend with a growth of 12 per cent in 2014-15 compared to the previous year.
“The tourist arrival in the State has increased from 98.66 lakh in 2013 to 1.08 crore in 2014. This was possible because of systematic interventions and promotional activities,” said Tourism and Culture Secretary Arvind Padhee.
The Government has decided to take appropriate measures to further increase the number of tourists. The department has set an ambitious target to double the tourist inflow and take the number of foreign tourists to about two lakhs during next year, Padhee said after a performance review meeting of the department.
Chairing a high level meeting on RFD (Result Framework Document) of the department, Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati directed the department to prepare a regular media plan for Rath Yatra in subsequent years and take up the festival as a major occasion for promotion of tourism.
Padhee said the Buddha art gallery has been set up at Buddhist Park in the City, tourism police made operational and specialised document of Nabakalebara already published by the department.
The trial run of light and sound show at Dhauli has successfully been done and all other preparations have been completed.
The department has been asked to prepare definite action plan for linking Odisha with Buddhist circuit and prepare an estimate for having a special coach between Bhubaneswar and Bodhgaya.
The department was asked to refurnish the art gallery of the State Museum and link up the institutions imparting training in tourism and hospitality with Huner Se Rojgar Yojna of the Centre.
The achievements of the department in other performance indicators like community participation for development of tourism and creation of employment, cleanliness in tourist centres, upgradation of OTDC complexes, effective media plan and improving public service delivery were found to be remarkable.
Tourism measures
■ Buddha art gallery has been set up at Buddhist Park in the City, tourism police made operational and specialised document of Nabakalebara already published
■ Department was asked to refurnish the art gallery of the State Museum and link up the institutions imparting training
■ Trial run of light and sound show at Dhauli has successfully been done and all other preparations have been completed