Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, Jan 30: Tourism minister Ashok Panda has urged the Centre to strengthen international connectivity between Orissaand South Asia to boost tourism.
Addressing a conclave on South Asian Tourism and Travel (SATTE) in New Delhi, Panda said there was a need for connecting Orissa with Indonesia, Malaysia and Vietnam to attract foreign tourists.
“The tour operators are rendering services to western states, but Orissa, despite its rich history of maritime trade, remains neglected, he pointed out.
Improved air connectivity would give the much needed impetus to Orissa’s economy, Panda said.
Notably, the Centre had accorded international status to Biju Patnaik Airport October 30, 2013. However, none of the global carriers have the civil aviation ministry’s nod to commence operations from Orissa to South Asian nations.
‘‘Footfalls of foreign tourists in 2013-14 was 67,000 as compared to 42,000 in 2008-09 – a two per cent rise during the period,” a state information and public relations (I&PR)
department press release
stated.