Inaugurating the second edition of the tourism conclave ‘Chalo Dekhein Apna Desh’ organised by Argus News at a city hotel here Saturday, Dr Patra said, Odisha has got tremendous cultural products like our Dola Melana, special cuisines like ‘haladi patra peetha’ (turmeric leaf laced cake), ‘panaa’ (sweet drink), ‘enduri peetha’ and ‘arisa peetha’ that can pitchfork our rural tourism to greater heights.
“Unfortunately Odisha has not branded itself as yet. We have not shown to the world what we are. As children of Odisha, we have lagged behind in projecting what Odisha is all about,” Dr Patra said, adding many things about Odisha are still hidden and these mystiques have to be showcased to the world.
The senior BJP leader said, rural tourism has got a much-needed fillip what with the wide road network under PMGSY. Earlier apprehensions like lack of connectivity, safety and hygiene issues that beset rural tourism have gone. He called upon the state government to ensure safety of tourists as law and order is a state subject.
“If small things like hygiene of water, hygiene of food and cuisine served to tourists, trained manpower and safety of tourists can be taken care of, believe me, India is going to be the next big destination as far as rural tourism is concerned,” he added.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr Pushpendra Pal Khanna, President, Association of Domestic Tour Operators of India (ADTOI), thanked the Modi government for initiating multiple steps to improve the tourism sector in rural as well as urban areas across the country that had been devastated by the pandemic.
In his speech, Chairman of Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) Jitendra Kumar Mohanty said rural tourism can boost the economy. He requested the Centre to introduce more trains and flights in Odisha.
In the daylong event, plenary sessions were conducted on different issues related to tourism sector. In the first session, delegates discussed on the topic “Active employment generation and reduction of urban drift– Building an ecosystem that supports diverse skills/capabilities.”
In the second session, representatives from several states such as Goa, Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Puducherry shared their experiences on promoting tourism in their respective states.
In the third session, a panel discussion was held on -- “Rural Tourism – A key factor for sustainable & community development - Preservation of local culture and traditions and building community pride.”
In the final session, the delegates participated in a panel discussion titled “A focused approach on rural tourism circuits and its marketing through promotion of localized attractions, experiences, adventure sports and art & crafts”.
Earlier, welcoming the guests and participants in the conclave, Mr Sanjay Jena, Editor in-chief, Argus News, said as a responsible media house, Argus News is not confined to delivering news only. It goes beyond this and works in areas that can benefit people the most, he added.
Representatives from various states such as Goa, Assam, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttarakhand and Puducherry and the Department of Tourism, Govt of India participated in the daylong deliberations.
Mr Prakash Sahu, CEO, Argus News, thanked the delegates and all the participants for attending the second edition of the tourism conclave and making it a grand success.
