Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Feb 28: The Department of Tourism Saturday announced a plethora of offers for visitors who want to be a part of the famous Nabakalebar festival. Tourism minister Ashok Chandra Panda Saturday told reporters that the tourism department, with the help of Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has planned to give special packages to visitors taking part in the festival.
The special tour package offered by OTDC comprises packages for Banayaga Yatra, Debasnana Purnima, Alarnath Darshan, Nabajaubana Darshan, Rath Yatra, Sandhya Darshan, Bahuda Yatra and Sunabesa. The different packages range from `999 to `3,999 per person. OTDC officials said the packages will include AC transport, AC accommodation on twin sharing basis, vegetarian food, boating in Chilika Lake, entry fee and roof-top ticket for the Rath Yatra.
While talking to reporters, Panda said, “We have also planned to install CCTV cameras and Wi-Fi services at different properties of OTDC to ensure safety and connectivity for the visitors. Nabakalebar is paramount to Orissa, we are trying our best to provide all possible facilities to the tourists for the festival.” Tourists who want to opt for the special OTDC packages can log on to
visitorissa.org or can contact the OTDC office in Panthnivas in the city.
Aravind Padhee, Secretary, Tourism said, “We are making all efforts to make the grand event more accessible and hassle-free for the tourists. The road work along the Bhubaneswar-Puri highway has been going on in full swing. We are ready to provide incentives to the managers and employees of the units with whom our department has signed MoU. People involved in different infrastructure projects, on early completion of their projects, can get incentives from the government; however, quality cannot be compromised at any cost.”
Padhee also spoke about the tourism police, a team of dedicated cops, who will take care of the safety and related concerns of the tourists. The secretary said that these police would be deployed at tourist sites such as, Puri, Konark, Dhauli, Nandankanan, Chandipur, among other places. He said the cost of tourist police will be borne by the tourist department.
Officials of the department said that the OTDC has performed well during the last fiscal and is expected to grow more in the days to come. Padhee, who is also the managing director of OTDC said, “OTDC has made a net profit of 3.24crore in the last fiscal and has been running on a path of progress. The corporation is involved in infrastructure projects and committed to serve the people in the best possible way.”
Meanwhile, officials of the department said that the state has been experiencing increased tourist footfalls. According to the department, 1,08,64,000 tourists, including 77,000 foreigners, visited the state last year.
The tourism department is also buoyed by the success of their Facebook and Twitter handle. Commenting on the issue, Padhee said, “We have been garnering tremendous response on our social networking sites. We have got very good inputs through this medium.”
