TravTalk India Online Magazine
Though Odisha holds much potential for tourism, key initiatives such as a five-fold increase in the tourism budget, a world-class convention centre, and addition of at least 5,000 rooms can help drive numbers.
Kanchan Nath
Addressing a gathering at the recently-concluded HRAO (Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha) Conclave, JK Mohanty, CMD, Swosti Group and Chairman, HRAO & IATO Eastern Region, said that Odisha needed at least 5,000 more hotel rooms to boost tourist numbers. “Every state in the country has been adding 10,000-15,000 rooms every year. Until our state has more classified hotels, we cannot increase foreign tourist footfalls here,” he shared. Post the devastating Cyclone Fani, a lot of damage was caused all around the state. Mohanty shared that the number of rooms required in Odisha now, beyond the cities of Bhubaneswar and Puri, is 2000 in the three-star category, 500 in the five-star category, and around 4000 in the two-star category.
We want a world-class convention centre in Bhubaneswar; if the right infrastructure is created, more people come for an event
₹1000 crore tourism budget
Mohanty also shared that the main issue of concern for Odisha was airline connectivity. “We don’t have many international airlines and we are not even connected with major cities of India,” he added.
According to him, the state must focus on promotion of its temple architecture, tribal areas, water sports, wildlife and eco-tourism, while the state’s tourism budget must increase five-fold, taking it from the current ₹200 crore to ₹1000 crore. He said, “The minister and secretary are fully in agreement with us. We request connectivity with Jeypore in Koraput district under the UDAN scheme, to include the Konark Temple and the Buddhist circuit under the ‘Iconic Sites’ list, and construct the 480 km coastal highway ring road and one around Lake Chilika as well.”
World-class convention centre
Mohanty feels that a world-class convention centre can really up the ante for the state’s M!CE tourism. “We wanted a world-class convention centre in Bhubaneswar; our neighbouring state has the Biswa Bangla Convention Centre, which can accommodate 4000-5000 people. It’s a big attraction in Kolkata, with major conferences being hosted there. I believe that if the right infrastructure is created, more people come for an event,” he said.
Suggestions taken into account by the government
- Revamp of digital marketing strategy of Odisha
- Optimisation of Odisha Tourism website
- Promotion of eco-tourism jointly with the forest department
- Conducting domestic roadshows almost every month
- Single-window clearance for operation of tourism projects
- Special promotion campaigns at destinations connected by air
- Allotment of land for hotel projects to attract investments to the state
