Odisha to hold roadshows in countries having Buddhist culture

In its bid to further develop tourism potential, Odisha government today decided to hold road shows in Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan and Cambodia to promote religious tourism in the state.
The government also decided to develop the second religious tourist circuit to add glamour to the existing Buddhist tourism.
"To achieve the goal, it is resolved to organise road-shows and promotional activities in countries like Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan and Cambodia in partnership with international tour operators," said a senior officer of the tourism department after attending a review meeting chaired by Chief Secrtary G C Pati here.
It has been proposed to develop Tulasi Kshetra and Baldevjew Temple of Kendrapara, Biraja Kshetra of Jajpur, Sarala pitha of Jagatsinghpur, Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri of Jajpur and Aradi Pitha of Bhadrakh district in the religious circuit.

Pati has directed the officials to connect Odisha with Budhist circuit.
The department of tourism has been directed to work out the plan for a special rail coach from Gaya to Bhubaneswar in Purusottam express.

The tourists arriving in this coach can be provided a special tourism package through OTDC (Odisha tourism development corporation).
Pati also told the department to explore the possibility of setting up air connectivity between Gaya and Bhubaneswar through regional airline operators.
Referring to the new initiatives for growth of handloom and textile sectors of Odisha, the Chief Secretary directed both the departments to finetune a specific strategy for common branding of Odisha Tourism, Textiles and Handloom.

Principal Secretary Tourism L N Gupta will work out a plan for joint participation of tourism related departments in national and international tourist events.
There has been a constant surge in tourist inflow in the state over last 4 years - which went up from 76,42,047 in the year 2010 to 108,62,048 in 2014.