Keonjhar: Apart from mineral wealth, Keonjhar is endowed with several scenic tourist spots, but their tourism potential has not been tapped due to lack of development and maintenance.
Besides, there are some other scenic spots which have not been given tourism status. In the absence of basic facilities like roads, the tourist spots in hilly terrain and tribal pockets have remained out of bounds for tourists and visitors. Another reason for failure to attract tourists to the district is the lack of publicity.
According to reports, the government has granted tourism status to Sanghagra, Badaghagara, Gundichaghagi, Khandadhar, Handibhanga, Murga and Chakratirtha.
However, other scenic spots with beautiful waterfall at Asurakhola, Tenteinali and Putughatghagi have not got tourism spot status, but they are still attracting tourists, though not in large numbers. These spots need development of infrastructure so as to draw more tourists from other parts of the country and abroad.
Locals said that many tourists do not get the chance of seeing the beautiful waterfalls at these places. Eco-tourism and tribal tourism potential of these spots should be developed.
Development of these tourist spots will improve the socio-economic condition of the poor tribals, experts observed. The tourism sector will open up vast employment avenues for local people.
Significantly, tourism development will greatly benefit the tribal culture and traditions which are on a vanishing mode.
The government has granted tourism status to 16 spots in the district. The tourism department has focused on developing tourism assets at a few places while several other places have not been given due attention, it is alleged.
Sources in the district tourism office said that some tourist spots recorded footfall of 18,70,877 tourists in 2014; 20, 68,090 tourists in 2015 and 22,42,583 tourists in 2016.
However, tourist footfall from abroad was not encouraging in the district. The district recorded visit of 71 foreign tourists in 2014; 56 in 2015 and 42 in 2016. Only 12 of them had visited the tourist spots.
To attract more tourists from other states and abroad, there is need for publicity, apart from making provision of motorable roads, accommodation, toilets, drinking water, lighting facilities and safety measures.
Experts said that the tourism department should maintain good coordination with tour operators and hotels so as to attract tourists to these places.
Tourism officer Ramchandra Nayak said that various steps are being taken to make provision of ropeway at Bhimkund and other places, apart from building accommodation, toilets with the help of local people. PNN
