While welcoming the Union Budget 2023-24 presented on Wednesday, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha has urged that Odisha be given special focus in the Union Government’s Budget proposal to promote 50 selected tourist destinations through a “Challenge Mode”.
Association chairman JK Mohanty suggested having international flights to Bhubaneswar through the Biju Patnaik International Airport. As the Government is planning 50 additional airports, it urged to develop Puri as a major international airport in eastern India.
The hoteliers’ body once again reiterated that the ECLGS loan’s term be extended further and the repayment schedule be extended in line with the general term loan given to hotels with the repayment schedule between 8-12 years.
Like on earlier occasions, it sought infrastructure status to the hotel industry and loans to hoteliers at cheaper rates of interest. Appreciating the proposal to set up Unity Malls in State capitals or at the most popular tourist destinations in the States for promotion of local crafts and other GI products, it sought luxury trains connectivity in Odisha (like that of Royal Rajasthan on Wheels, Deccan Odyssye, Maharajas’ Express, Palace on Wheels etc.) between Puri and Kolkata.
Further, it said as Odisha also has huge Buddhist potential, the Mahaparinirvan Express should be extended up to Puri.