To make Odisha a preferred global tourist destination, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) submitted a series of recommendations to the State Government on Sunday.
The recommendations, prepared during the 3rd Odisha Tourism Conclave held here by the HRAO here on August 24, 2018, were released by Development Commissioner R Balkrishnan and Tourism Director Archana Patnaik.
The association suggested that a vibrant social media campaign be undertaken in Odisha for promote tourism like Rajasthan, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh and Gujarat and a tourism master plan be prepared for the next five years with a target for annual growth in terms of tourist footfall to the State.
The association also suggested that the Government spend at least 20 per cent of the publicity budget on information and technology in promoting tourist destinations through social media.
In Facebook and Twitter use, Odisha is much below than the top States in almost all matrices, remarked HRAO.
The association also suggested appointment of a popular person as brand ambassador to promote Odisha Tourism. The association also demanded increasing air connectivity to the State by reviving flights to Bangkok and exploring connectivity with Dubai, Sri Lanka, Bhutan, Nepal and Bangladesh. The State can double its domestic tourism with direct flight connectivity to cities like Varanasi, Bodh Gaya, Pune, Port Blair and Ahmedabad, the association pointed out.
The State should focus more on domestic tourism without differentiating with international tourism keeping Lord Jagannath as the major draw. Emphasis should be given on cleanliness, sanitation and safety of visitors at tourist destinations.
For the hotel industry, the association demanded to relax norms to get fire and liquor permissions and to make single window clearance for tourism projects. To attract investments, land should be allotted to hoteliers in instalment basis. It also proposed to set up State Tourism Development Authority and construct an international standard convention centre to attract international conferences and conventions to the state.
“Odisha has immense potential for tourism. But due to lack of proper marketing and promotion, we are lagging behind other States. We expect the State Government will take proactive steps for the tourism sector,” said HRAO chairman and member of State Tourism Promotion Council and Tourism Advisory Committee J K Mohanty.