Bhubaneswar: The state government’s efforts to promote eco-tourism have had the desired effect with the number of visitors to the sites increasing substantially in the last one year.
Officials of tourism department revealed the numbers at a review meeting chaired by Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi. Padhi directed the officials to involve more local populace thereby providing them with alternative livelihood options.
What came as a surprise was the eco-tourism website of the state—www.ecotourodisha.com— is often being visited by people from 103 countries including US, France, UK, United Arab Emirates, Germany, Canada, Singapore, Netherlands, Australia, China, Japan, Sweden and Saudi Arabia among several others, an official said. To facilitate the services, 72 booking facilities have been opened across the country in multiple states.
The department was asked to initiate steps for identifying appropriate land near eco-spots for infrastructure development.
To provide fillip to the eco-tourism sector, the government has decided to organise National Bird Festival at Mangalajodi in Chilika during January-February. The proposal regarding launching tours from Bhubaneswar to Bhitarkanika, Mangalajodi, Nandankanan and Chandaka was also approved in the meeting.
Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) Sandeep Tripathi said so far 37 eco-tourist destinations have been developed and thrown open to the visitors in different parts of the state.
Around 294 tent rooms with capacity of accommodating 850 persons per day have been put up for the benefit of the visitors, he added.
Around 1,000 locals including men and women are getting additional livelihood support from activities like hospitality, home-keeping, care, conservation and other ancillary activities in these spots.
Sources said that around Rs 34 crore was invested in development of the state’s eco-tourism spots from 2016-17 to 2018-19 and Rs 4 crore has been earned from the sites. The revenue generation is expected to reach Rs 6 crore by end of the current fiscal year. The government has estimated that the revenue generation from the eco-tourism sites will reach Rs 10 crore by the financial year 2019-20, sources added.
