States » EastPosted at: Jun 21 2025 7:19PM


HRAO urges Odisha Govt to develop the state as a global tourist destination

Bhubaneswar, June 21 (UNI) Chairman of the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO), J K Mohanty, on Saturday urged the Odisha government to transform the state into a global tourist destination by attracting substantial investments in the tourism sector.
Mohanty emphasized that this goal could be achieved through the construction of luxury hotels and resorts, the development of major tourist attractions, and by giving due importance to foreign tourists.
Addressing a press conference here, Mohanty highlighted the need to include tourism as a subject in the curriculum of top revenue-generating institutions and urged the state government to plan initiatives to promote Odisha as a 21-night destination.
He announced that the sixth edition of the two-day ‘Odisha Tourism Festival’, organized by HRAO, will be held on June 25 to promote tourism in the state.
During the festival, industry experts will discuss the development of various tourist destinations across Odisha and explore strategies to make them more appealing to foreign visitors.
Mohanty stressed that the state government must enhance infrastructure and permit the establishment of hotels and resorts at Odisha’s key tourist locations.
He noted that in the past three years, countries such as the Maldives, Thailand, Malaysia, Mauritius, Hong Kong, Japan, Canada, and China have witnessed rapid tourism growth and have collectively earned around Rs.9,000 crore from Indian tourists.
According to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, about 278 million Indians traveled abroad in 2023—a 26.25 percent increase compared to 2022. Of these travelers, 45 percent went abroad for leisure or entertainment purposes.
Mohanty pointed out that Odisha boasts India’s longest coastline, stretching 580 km, which could be developed into a significant tourism hub.
In response to HRAO’s appeal, the state government has revised its tourism policy and is offering incentives and special concessions to boost the private sector's participation in hotel development.
He further urged the government to improve accessibility through better roads, air connectivity, and railway infrastructure, and to focus on providing technologically advanced accommodations, particularly for international tourists.
According to the Ministry of Tourism’s India Tourism Report – 2024, Odisha had only 16 star-rated hotels with a total of 1,055 rooms in 2023. That year, the state recorded visits from 97.25 lakh domestic tourists and 45,000 foreign tourists.
Mohanty noted that Odisha’s tourism sector is showing signs of recovery in 2025. He expressed HRAO’s commitment to elevating Odisha’s rank among Indian tourist destinations—from 17th position currently to 7th by 2027, and to 3rd by 2036.
The association, he said, will continue to work toward this vision by showcasing Odisha’s rich cultural and historical heritage. HRAO will also collaborate closely with the state government to address the shortage of skilled manpower in the hospitality sector, through support from the Ministry of Tourism.
He added that the state tourism department plans to invest in infrastructure development in Hirakud, Koraput, Satkosia, Bhitarkanika, and Baleswar (in northern Odisha), as well as in the Ganjam region (in southern Odisha).
Additionally, plans are underway to develop another world-class Blue Flag beach at Gopalpur to attract tourists from across the country.
HRAO, he said, will extend full support to the state government in its efforts to bring Odisha into the top ten Indian states in the tourism sector.
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Tags: #HRAO urges Odisha Govt to develop the state as a global tourist destination
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