The Odisha Tourism has bagged the Best Pilgrimage Tourism Destination Award 2013. Acclaimed tourism magazine Today’s Traveller conferred the award in a ceremony in New Delhi on Friday.
State Tourism Director Manoranjan Patnaik received the award on behalf of Odisha Tourism from Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Oscar Fernandes. Patnaik said Odisha received the award due to its initiatives to promote tourism at various religious places and preserving culture and history and raising the quality of tourism services.
Preservation of the State’s historical, cultural and religious centres includes the holy pilgrimage cities like Puri, Konark, Bhubaneswar as well as the other destination like Maa Tarini Temple in Keonjhar, Maa Tara Tarini in Ganjam, Sabara Shrrekhetra in Koraput.
It may be noted that the award is conferred on the principles on fair tourism, ethical tourism and safety standards and historic preservation of cultural sites.