Domestic tourism is the buzz word in today’s scenario while the country’s leading states are looking for ways and means to revive the industry once again and regain the trust of travellers by offering safe and hygiene atmosphere. In order to minimize the aftereffects of the pandemic all the leading states have adopted ‘New Normal’ and coming up with niche experiences to attract domestic travellers.
Odisha, an eastern Indian state very well know as India’s Best Kept Secret is aiming to receive domestic travellers in a large number. “There is a lot of pent up demand to travel. What is crucial now is our ability to generate and inspire confidence among the people that travelling is safe. Odisha Tourism is focusing on safety and health, domestic tourism and promotion on curated and niche experiences,” Vishal Kumar Dev, Commissioner– cum– Secretary, Tourism and Sports and Youth Services Department, Government of Odisha.
Sharing his views on the ongoing global pandemic COVID-19 the Secretary says: “The impact of COVID-19 has caused a paradigm shift for the travel, hospitality and tourism industry, which is one of the most severely impacted sectors.” He was addressing a webinar on ‘Future of Travel & Tourism and Strategies to Revitalize the Industry‘ organised by FICCI, in association with the Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha.
While elaborating on his preparedness to receive tourist, the Dev says: “Odisha has been working on a number of innovative products over the past three-four months to enhance the brand value of the state. These include houseboats, river cruises, culinary tourism, to promote the Odia cuisine and the makeover of the Niladri beach, which will soon be among the first ‘Blue Flag‘ beaches in India. The Konark Glamping Festival had received a positive response last year and we plan to launch the same at four new destinations in Odisha this year.”
Speaking on the same lines Sachin Ramchandra Jadhav, Director & Additional Secretary, Department of Tourism, Government of Odisha, said: “The Government is positive about the recovery and revival of tourism sector and we are taking steps in this direction. Taking the example of other states which have opened to tourism, he said that the earlier we open, the earlier we will learn to revive tourism.”
“While our response to the pandemic has been tactical, our approach to restart tourism has to be strategic and we must set our priorities right,” he added.
JK Mohanty, Co-Chair, FICCI Tourism Committee, Chairman, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) and CMD, Swosti Group, added that this is the best time for the government to offer incentives for investment in hotel infrastructure in the state. A project like ‘Disneyland’ will also boost tourism to the state.”
