The State Government on Saturday decided to take all measures in the tourism sector so that the number of tourists visiting Odisha would be doubled and cross two-crore mark by the end of the current fiscal.This target was set at the first State Tourism Promotion Council meeting held under chairmanship of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at the Secretariat here, said an official release.It was revealed that tourist arrival to the State has been increased by 12 per cent from 2013 to 2014. While 98.66 lakh visited the State in 2013, the increased to 1.08 crore in 2014.Similarly, the Government decided to increase foreign tourist arrival to about 2 lakh which would help improve international flight connectivity to the Biju Patnaik International Airport here.
Other decisions taken include involvement of more professional agencies for promostion, improvement of OTDC facilities and operations through PPP, all tourist spots to be made safe, secure and clean and putting up of Tourist Police cells in 8 identified PSs and establishment of 15 Jajabara wayside amenities centres on NH and SH sides at important places.It was revealed that the Government is preparing a DPR for development of Gopalpur-Tampara-Chilika and Talasari-Chandipur-Dagar under the Central Government scheme for integrated circuits called Swadesh Darshan.The council discussed the Odisha Tourism Policy-2013 at length and members made various suggestions for improvement of tourisim sector in the State.
It was decided that the State level Single Window Clearance Authority for tourism projects upto an investment of Rs50 crore would be chaired by Tourism Secretary which was earlier chaired by the Chief Secretary.Among others, Tourism Minister Ashok Panda, Commerce & Transport Minister Ramesh Majhi, Chief Secretary GC Pati and Development Commissioner UN Behera were present.