As Odisha is gearing up to host the three-day Pravasi Bharatiya Divas from January 8 to be attended by around 7,000 NRIs, the state government is making homestay arrangements for the visitors apart from hotel accommodations. The homestay owners have been provided training in guest management and safety protocols.

“It is a big opportunity for the people of Odisha to host the NRIs. We will also make homestay arrangements for them apart from hotel accommodation,” Deputy Chief Minister Pravati Parida said. Odisha's hospitality would be on the like of “Atithi Deva Bhabo" (Guest is God), she said.

In order to facilitate the visitors to book their accommodation, Parida said the Odisha Tourism Department has blocked 200 hotels with more than 3,700 rooms in Bhubaneswar, Cuttack and Puri. The families owning homestays, who would host the visiting NRIs, have been provided basic training in guest management and safety protocols, a senior official said.

The aim is to provide the Indian diaspora with the experience of Odisha's atmosphere as well as the culture and tradition in Odia homes, the official said. This apart, in view of cyber frauds in hotel bookings, the state government has advised the delegates to book their accommodation through a dedicated website ‘pbdindia.Gov.In.'

The state tourism department has shared the names and other details of hotels with the Ministry of Home Affairs for the safety of delegates. The department has also identified as many as 30 tourist destinations in Bhubaneswar, Puri, Konark, Chilika-Satapada and Raghurajpur crafts village where the NRIs may pay visits, the official said.