TravTalk India Online Magazine
Odisha government is working tirelessly to attain inclusive growth. Despite the pandemic, the government has recognised the state’s potential and has been working hard to promote tourism as a major industry that will aid in economic growth and employment generation.
Janice Alyosius
Despite the pandemic, the sector’s stakeholders have shown significant resilience and capacity to deal with its negative impacts. Odisha’s state government is working to ensure that business opens up in accordance with stringent norms and protocols, allowing the tourism sector to recover quickly.
Ensuring that the industry returns to normal will require a collaborative effort from all parties concerned. “Everything rests on us,” Surendra Kumar, Principal Secretary, Tourism, Odisha, says. “If the procedures are followed, if people ensure that they are wearing masks, and keep social distance, then we can quickly break out of the pandemic cycle.” The Odisha government is currently focussing on promoting inclusive growth. “The state has a lot of potential. It is a fascinating state in terms of natural beauty and cultural heritage,” says Kumar.
Odisha’s government is working to improve tourism through a variety of programmes. The first step is to phase out the community-led eco-tourism model. Odisha has developed a number of eco-tourism locations in recent years because it is a product that has been well received by the public, with occupancy rates exceeding 65 per cent despite the pandemic. According to Kumar, “It is a product that will attract many tourists.”
Second, upgrading homestays, which enable guests to enjoy rural life and explore the countryside. The third concern is the tourists’ safety. It is more crucial than anything else because if something goes wrong, it has a significant negative impact on the sector, making recovery difficult.
The eco retreat is the next major endeavor, which was developed to provide a sustainable environment for tourists as well as to foster social responsibility by assisting the local habitat and the local people. With the best in lodging, food and drink, adventure activities, and engaging cultural experiences and excursions, guests will receive the greatest services while also benefiting the area’s local farmers. These eco-friendly hotels will greatly benefit them by using their locally grown foods. “Our goal is to discover new regions. There are many sites that have yet to be explored, particularly along the seaside highway. We want
to increase access to a huge number of beaches that have yet to be explored due to lack of accessibility. The beaches are superior than those found in urban areas today, and they may be converted into resorts.
