State eyes Budget boost to tourism sector
Bhubaneswar: Odisha is eyeing gains in the tourism sector with Union finance minister Nirmala Sitharaman announcing the development of 50 tourism sites in the Union Budget.
Given the special attention to destinations related to the life and times of Buddha, Odisha’s Buddhist circuit is expecting a facelift.
“Odisha has huge untapped potential in the tourism sector, and as the Union Budget has announced the development of 50 top tourist destinations, Odisha is certainly going to benefit from it,” said deputy chief minister Pravati Parida, who is also the tourism minister.
“With the focus on places of spiritual and religious significance, Puri and other important religious places will get a boost. Buddhist circles will also be developed,” she added.
Odisha is home to Buddhist sites like Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, Lalitgiri and Dhauli, which are expected to benefit from this initiative. “We have been working on promoting Buddhist tourism. This announcement aligns perfectly with our vision. With improved amenities, better connectivity, and increased global tourist footfall, these sites will gain international attention,” Parida said.
The budget added that land for building key infrastructure, including hotels, will have to be provided by states, and hotels in those destinations will be included in the infrastructure. “Many tourist destinations in the state do not have hotel facilities, and this will give a boost to infrastructure development at tourist places,” said Debasish Patnaik, a prominent hotelier.
Given the special attention to destinations related to the life and times of Buddha, Odisha’s Buddhist circuit is expecting a facelift.
“Odisha has huge untapped potential in the tourism sector, and as the Union Budget has announced the development of 50 top tourist destinations, Odisha is certainly going to benefit from it,” said deputy chief minister Pravati Parida, who is also the tourism minister.
“With the focus on places of spiritual and religious significance, Puri and other important religious places will get a boost. Buddhist circles will also be developed,” she added.
Odisha is home to Buddhist sites like Ratnagiri, Udayagiri, Lalitgiri and Dhauli, which are expected to benefit from this initiative. “We have been working on promoting Buddhist tourism. This announcement aligns perfectly with our vision. With improved amenities, better connectivity, and increased global tourist footfall, these sites will gain international attention,” Parida said.
The budget added that land for building key infrastructure, including hotels, will have to be provided by states, and hotels in those destinations will be included in the infrastructure. “Many tourist destinations in the state do not have hotel facilities, and this will give a boost to infrastructure development at tourist places,” said Debasish Patnaik, a prominent hotelier.
