The Odisha Government has decided to develop a second religious tourist circuit in the State.
This has been discussed in the tourism sector review meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary Gokul Chandra Pati on Tuesday wherein Principal Secretary, Tourism laxmi Narayan Gupta outlined the issues for discussion. It has been proposed to develop Tulasi Kshetra and Baldevjew Temple of Kendrapada, Biraja Kshetra of Jajpur, Sarala pitha of Jagatsinghpur , lalitgiri and Ratnagiri of Jajpur and Aradi Pitha of Bhadrakh district in the religious circuit.
Chief Secretary Pati directed to connect Odisha with the Budhist circuit. The department has been advised to work out the plan for a special rail coach from Gaya to Bhubaneswar in Purusottam Express. The tourists coming in the coach can be provided a special tourism package through OTDC. The Chief Secretary also advised the department to explore the possibility of establishing air connectivity between Gaya and Bhubaneswar through regional air line operators. It has also been decided to organize road shows and promotional activities in the countries like Sri lanka, Thailand, Japan and Cambodia in partnership with international tour operators.
Pointing to the new initiatives for growth of handloom and textile sector of Odisha, the Chief Secretary directed both the Tourism and Textiles and Handloom departments to develop a specific strategy for common branding of Odisha tourism, textiles and handloom with technical support from OMEGA team. Pati also advised the department to promote mega events like Toshali Exhibition, ORMAS Mela and Adivasi Mela as tourist events in coordination with various departments.
Principal Secretary Tourism Gupta advised to work out a plan for joint participation of tourism related departments in national and international tourist events.
Available data shows that there has been a constant growth in tourist inflow to the State over last four years. It has increased from 76, 42,047 in the year 2010 to 91, 17, 085 in the year 2012 and 108, 62,048 in 2014
At present, a number of projects are being implemented in the State. These include the projects like light and sound show at Dhauli, Khandagiri-Udayagiri and Konak, development of Koraput-Deomali-Gupteswar- Sunabedha tribal circuit, development of Harishankar-Nrusinghanath circuit and Puri- Ranchandi- Prachi river front, installation of floating musical fountain at Narandra Pokhari, Puri and development of rural tourism at Sadeibareni in Dhenkanal district.
Apart from this, because of State Government initiatives, the Centre has identified 12 cities in the State for religious tourism. Odisha has become the first State to be included under Prasad scheme. So far the State has received grant of Rs 10 crore out of the total sanction of Rs50 crore under the scheme.