Bhubaneswar, Feb 20: Odisha Tourism and Culture Minister Ashok Chandra Panda has stressed the need for air connectivity between Ahmedabad and Bhubaneswar.
Speaking at ‘Vibrant Gujarat’, an International tourism mart in Ahmedabad, Panda said that Odisha located in the eastern part of Indian subcontinent, is one of the most gifted states in India from tourism view point.
“The temples and monuments, lakes and lagoons, forest and wildlife, beaches and riverines, dance and music, handlooms and handicrafts, rich tribal and Buddhist heritage of Odisha attract visitors and tourists”, he stated, adding the State capital has topped the list of 120 cities in the country to be adopt under the smart city programmes.
The Minister said tourist arrival to Odisha is growing at a rate of 8 pc. “The domestic tourist arrival in 2014 was 108,62,048 tourists with a growth rate of 10.08 pc as compared to 2013.
Similarly, the Foreign Tourist arrival to the state in 2014 was 71,426 with a growth rate of 7.13 pc over 2013”, said Panda. He added that as per the Toruism Policy, which was launched in 2013, High level Committees at different levels have been formed for speedy and single window clearances of tourism related projects on a fast track basis.
He said that the Buddhist Circuits of Odisha as a niche product is important for the State and country.
“To position it internationally, Odisha Tourism is organising International conference on Buddhism each year and inviting scholars and tour operators from abroad. To give a major boost to this sector, Air India has started direct air connectivity from Bhubaneswar to Varanasi for giving an opportunity to the Buddhist tourists to have a glimpse of the rich Buddhist heritage of Odisha”, Panda said.
Odisha tourism is organising road shows within the country in different cities to attract large bulk of domestic tourists to Odisha and this year 10 roadshows have been lined up, he added.
