Odisha eyes domestic tourists
Odisha Tourism is keen on promoting its various tourism products across India with its 10-city roadshow to tap the potential of the domestic market.
With a variety of tourism products on offer, Gujarat Tourism is set to enhance the tourism segment in the state. N Srivastava, Managing Director, Tourism Corporation of Gujarat, says, "Gujarat has 1,600 km long coastline that needs to be harnessed. Gujarat is also the birthplace of Mahatma Gandhi and Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel and these two tourism circuits need to be developed. We have the JyotirLinga, which offers variety of spiritual tourism options for both domestic and international tourists." In 201415, the total tourist arrivals in the state was 3.36 crore, which was 13.5 per cent higher than the previous year. Srivastava adds, "Ahmedabad, Ambaji, Dwaraka, Surat, and Vadodara, continue to remain top-draw destinations and are major contributors to the gross tourist flow to Gujarat."
On the achievements of the state tourism department, Srivastava says, "Even though the final figures have not been compiled yet, I can safely say that tourism to the state has definitely increased. The Rann of Kutch festival has been a big success. We have developed around 76 tents and lodges to make the area into a wedding destination during the winter season."
Discussing the role of private sector in developing tourism in Gujarat, he says, "Without the support of the private stakeholders, the government cannot develop tourism circuits . Thus hotels, tour operators, or other travel trade partners are the biggest contributors in developing tourism.”
Talking about extending support to the travel trade, Srivastava says, "We launched the tourism policy in September last year, which offers multiple subsidies and incentives to the private stakeholders to build in Gujarat. To develop tourism further, we need more hotels, local tour guides-both audio and video, new infrastructure, and new activities to make the tourists stay longer." The new policy will be in effect till March 31, 2020. Srivastava also adds, "The state government focus on tourism can be gauged from the fact that the tourism budget has grown exponentially from a
` mere 100 crore in 2006 to over `
500 crore currently.”
The Department of Tourism (DoT), Government of Odisha, in its bid to attract domestic tourists has organised a 10-city roadshow with the objective of promoting the state
The state also has a progressive and investmentfriendly Tourism Policy in operation since April 2013. As per the policy, a state-level Single Window Committee has been created for speedy implementation of the projects. Several started the Light & Sound Show (SEL) at Dhauli and we will follow this up with a show at Konark and KhandagiriUdayagiri. Odisha Tourism aims to attract domestic tourists from various parts of the country, for which we are holding roadshows in different cities.” Odisha Tourism Development Corporation has also been playing a key role in the promotion and development of tourism in the state.