Odisha sets 2020 deadline for new tourism policy

Vishal Kumar Dev, Commissioner – cum – Secretary, Tourism, Sports and Youth Services, Government of Odisha, has said that the state will be coming up with a new tourism policy in 2020. Congratulating Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha for conducting the 4th Odisha Tourism Conclave, he shared, “An important agenda for the department of tourism is the drastic simplification of the process of allotment of land for new construction of hotels. There is a lack of enough star hotels in Odisha, especially in Bhubaneswar, which is a necessity for tourism.” They will be starting the Konark Sun City Festival to attract more tourists to the destination soon. Impetus remains on developing infrastructure, the department has also identified nine circuits touching 13 destinations, where developing infrastructure is the priority. While they have held six roadshows to promote Odisha, six more roadshows will take place this year. Next year, they hope to have international roadshows to promote tourism in Malaysia, Thailand, Indonesia, Vietnam and Cambodia