To develop the tourism sector in the state, the Orissa government plans to formulate a new tourism policy soon. The process has been set in motion with the government readying its draft.
Sources said, a meeting of the stakeholders will be held shortly to elicit response on the proposed policy after which the draft will be finalised.
“We are seriously considering to formulate a new policy for the all-round development of the tourism sector in the state. The draft of the proposed policy is ready and a stake holders’ meet will be convened soon to give it a final shape”, said Devi Prasad Misra, minister for tourism, culture and higher education.
Misra, who retained his tourism portfolio in the new ministry, said, tourism is an important engine of development as it is connected with the livelihood opportunities for a large number of people. Along with the mining and industrial sectors, tourism is poised for higher growth.
The state has become an important destination for the tourists for its long coastline, art and crafts, sanctuary like Similipal, natural lake like Chilika among others.
While the government is making all effort to provide the required infrastructure and facilities to the tourists coming to Orissa, the incomplete projects like creation of tourism circuit and setting up of kiosks at important tourist centres will be completed soon to increase visibility.
Despite incidents of communal violence in Kandhamal district last year, Orissa recorded 10.28 per cent growth in tourist arrivals, both domestic and overseas, in 2008 compared to the previous year. 66,02,411 tourists visited the state in 2008 as against 59,86,770 in 2007.
Out of a total of 66,02,411 tourists in 2008, 65,58,445 were from within the country while the remaining 43, 966 were foreign tourists. The number of domestic tourists grew by 10.32 per cent from 59,86,770 in 2007 to 65,58,445 in 2008 and the foreign tourist inflow rose from 41,880 to 43,966 during the same period. Similarly, the tourist expenditure also increased to Rs 108.54 crore in 2008 from Rs 103.39 crore in the previous year.
Meanwhile, the government has identified 313 locations including 16 locations on hill tops to develop as tourist destinations.
These hill tops are Biswanath hills (Puri), Kapilas (Dhenkanal), Mandanagiri (Khurda), Ranapur (Nayagarh), Satyapur (Jajpur), Devgiri (Rayagada), Tatatarini (Ganjam), Panchalingeswar (Balasore), Mahendragiri (Gajapati), Deomali (Koraput), Saptasajya (Dhenkanal), Mahurkalua (Ganjam), Siddhamaula ( Nayagarh), Murga Mahadev (Keonjhar), Chhatri hill (Sundergarh) and Junagarh (Sundergarh).
