Bhubaneswar: To make tourism development in Odisha more dynamic and linked to local economy, an orientation programme of the Local Tourism Promotion Council (LTPC) was organized by the Tourism Department today through virtual mode under ‘Odisha Tourism Vision-2036/47’.
The programme was chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg and attended by sub-Collectors of various districts, Chairpersons and members of LTPCs and police officers. Highlighting the vision of ‘Viksit Odisha and Viksit Bharat’, Chief Secretary Garg emphasized tourism’s significant contribution to district, state and national economy as well as local livelihoods.
Reiterating the motto of “Think India, Think Odisha”, she directed officials to take active role in tourism development at local level. She said the State Government has introduced Tourism Policy, Odisha Homestay Establishment Scheme-2025 and eco-tourism policies for local tourism and employment generation, and stressed on implementing them at grassroots to bring visible change.
She advised special attention to cleanliness of tourist destinations, basic amenities, hospitality and involvement of local youth. The Chief Secretary asked sub-Collectors and LTPC members to act as key facilitators and to identify new tourist attractions, homestays, heritage sites and natural resources in their areas for development and promotion. She directed coordination with all concerned departments for roads, cleanliness, ancillary infrastructure, signage, training of local youth, homestays and wayside amenities to maintain heritage sites and make areas more attractive.
She directed to develop 5 to 10 small tourism sectors in each district adopting ‘One District-Many Tourism Initiatives’ approach, which would benefit rural economy, women, youth and MSME sector. She also suggested starting a ‘Tourism Ranking’ system to promote healthy competition among districts and asked district administrations to give top priority to tourism initiatives.
Tourism Commissioner and Secretary Balwant Singh gave detailed information on ‘Tourism Vision 2036-2047’ while Director Tourism Deepankar Mohapatra discussed the upcoming action plan. While the state government is setting up a land bank for tourism development and investment promotion, the Chief Secretary directed sub-collectors to identify suitable land at local level. Development of hotels, homestays, tour and travel services, guide services, transportation and tour packages to provide better services to tourists along with promoting investment were also discussed.
Various presentations were made on investment and land bank, tourism destinations and infrastructure, adventure tourism, homestays and ethnic tourism. Senior officials of Tourism Department attended the meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan.
