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Ambar Singh Roy

The tourism sector would boost economic growth in the State, which has been hit by natural calamities, low investments from outside and unemployment.

BHUBANESWAR, Dec. 2

THE Orissa Tourism Department has partnered with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) to formulate a tourism policy that will take into account the unique selling propositions of the State. The proposed policy is expected to be announced next year.

The emphasis of the policy — which will mainly target domestic tourists — will be on rural tourism, heritage tourism, eco-tourism, wildlife tourism and adventure sports, according to Mr R. Balakrishnan, the State Tourism Secretary-cum-Commissioner.

"We will focus on our strengths and promote hitherto less-known destinations. `Feel India from within' is the Government of India's slogan to promote tourism in the country. We are saying `Feel India from within' but also `Touch Orissa' and get to know our Indianess''.

Mr Balakrishnan told Business Line that the tourism sector would boost economic growth in the State, which has been hit by natural calamities, low investments from outside and unemployment. "Tourism is one industry where the maximum number of jobs can be created with minimal investment. Each Rs 1 million that is invested in the tourism sector creates jobs for 48 people.

For a similar amount that is invested in agriculture, 43 jobs are created while the figures for services and manufacturing are 17 and 13, respectively," he said. Private sector participation in the State's tourism arena was being encouraged.

Following the success of the Satapada experiment, the State Government was repositioning Puri as a hub from where visitors can go to Chilka and to Satapada — near Puri where Irrawady dolphins can be sighted.

In fact, a "masterplan approach" has been taken for the development of the State's tourism sector.

Towards this end, Tata Consultancy Services has been engaged as consultants for promotion of tourism in Puri and Konarak while Crisil has been entrusted with the task of preparing a roadmap for promotion of Buddhist tourism in the State.

While there was a 47 per cent drop in tourist arrivals in Orissa following the super cyclone in October 1999, the year 2001-2002 witnessed a 7.2 per cent growth in tourist arrivals, an all-time high. Most of tourists, however, were domestic ones.

According to Mr Balakrishnan, lack of adequate air connectivity to Bhubaneswar from Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata and the high air fares in the domestic sector were great hindrances to foreign tourist inflows into Orissa.

He disclosed that a request has been made to Air India to club one domestic sector fare — with an element of concession in it — to the inbound fares that foreign tourists are charged.

To attract foreign tourists, roadshows would be held at Paris and Amsterdam, he said.

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