The promotion of “Freedom Movement linked tourism” will be one of the components in the state’s proposed new tourism policy, which will come out during the current year, according to the state tourism and higher education minister, Debi Prasad Mishra.
“There are a number of historic places in the state linked to the freedom struggle of our country and a large number of people from the state had sacrificed their lives for national interest. These subjects can be roped in for development of tourism in Orissa”, the minister said.
He was addressing a seminar on “The necessities and possibilities of the freedom movement linked tourism in Orissa”, organised by the People’s Trust, here, on the occasion of Independence Day.
“We want to incorporate this new concept in the proposed tourism policy, the draft of which has already been prepared”, the minister said. The government would discuss with other line departments and stakeholders before coming out with the new policy, he added.
The minister said, while the important heritage sites linked to the national movement could be developed as tourist destinations, the lives of the freedom fighters from Orissa could be revisited by setting up of interpretation centers and exhibiting their activities through audio-visual processes. “It can be treated as value addition in the tourism sector. For the purpose the government plans to develop exclusive tourism clusters at several places”, he said.
In the first phase, the minister said, the government would set up such a center at the circle jail, Berhampur, where the life and activities of noted freedom fighter, Laxman Nayak, who was hanged inside the jail premises, would be showcased.
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“It is not a new concept in tourism sector. At the national level several freedom movement linked heritages have been developed as important tourist destinations”, said retired professor in history and tourism, Berhampour University, Amiya Patnaik.
The places like Gandhiji’s Sabaramati ashram in Gujarat, Ananda Bhawan, Allahabad, Aga Khan Palace at Pune, Jallianwalla Bagh in Punjab and cellular jail in Andaman are some of the freedom movement linked tourist places, which are visited by a large number of foreign tourists.
He said, the freedom movement-linked tourism will not only give a boost to the tourism industry in the state, but also help create patriotic spirit among the present and future generation.