The Department of Tourism hosted a virtual orientation program today for the Local Tourism Promotion Council (LTPC) to align grassroots administrative efforts with the ‘Odisha Tourism Vision-2036/47’.
Chaired by Chief Secretary Anu Garg, the meeting focused on leveraging tourism as a primary catalyst for local economic development in line with the broader objectives of ‘Viksit Odisha-2036’ and ‘Viksit Bharat-2047’. Sub-Collectors, LTPC Chairpersons, Inspectors-in-Charge (IICs), and senior department officials participated in the strategic session.
Reiterating the core mantra of “Think India, Think Odisha”, Chief Secretary Garg directed Sub-Collectors and district officials to act as active facilitators for tourism rather than mere administrators. She mandated the immediate identification and promotion of new tourist destinations, heritage sites, and natural reserves within their respective jurisdictions. To drive tangible change, the state is rolling out the ‘Odisha Homestay Establishment Scheme-2025’ alongside updated eco-tourism policies, prioritizing rural employment, hospitality training for local youth, and impeccable sanitation at all tourist spots.
The state government is implementing several structural changes to foster a competitive and investment-friendly tourism ecosystem:
- District Tourism Rankings: A new ranking system will be introduced to spark healthy competition among districts, pushing local administrations to prioritize tourism infrastructure and visitor experience.
- One District, Multiple Tourism Initiatives: Districts are instructed to adopt a micro-development approach, identifying and upgrading 5 to 10 smaller tourist sites to directly benefit rural economies, MSMEs, and women’s self-help groups.
- Tourism Land Bank: To streamline private investment in the hospitality sector, the government is building a dedicated land bank. Sub-Collectors have been tasked with identifying suitable land parcels at the local level to expedite this process.
During the session, Tourism Commissioner-cum-Secretary Balwant Singh presented the comprehensive roadmap for ‘Tourism Vision 2036-2047’, while Director Dipankar Mohapatra outlined the immediate action plans.
The meeting concluded with detailed departmental presentations on niche sectors requiring focused capital investment, including adventure tourism, ethnic and tribal lifestyle tourism, tour and travel services, and the expansion of wayside amenities.
