Shreemayee Sweta Snigdha Mishra took charge as the Chairperson of the Odisha Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) Thursday. This public enterprise runs state hotels under the brand ‘Panthanivas’ and also undertakes tourism projects. In an interview to Orissa POST, Mishra spoke about her blueprint for the department. Excerpts:
What are your plans for developing tourism?
We are offering some tour packages of OTDC and managing Panthanivas hotels. I joined today and this was my first day. I will speak to the Tourism Minister and Secretary to prepare a blueprint for promoting tourism. I want to bring women self-help groups (SHGs) into the tourism sector.
How do you plan to use women SHGs in the tourism sector?
Women SHGs are highly motivated. I want to tap their potential. I want to make sure that tourist sites are managed by them. Things like improving their linkage to business and improving opportunities to sell their products can also be looked into. This will enable women in rural areas to prove their competence and play a crucial role in the sector. I want the OTDC and Mission Shakti to work together.
OTDC manages Panthanivas hotels. But in many areas they are neglected and in bad shape. Your take?
Let me get accustomed to the department affairs. After meeting senior officials and getting ground reports, a roadmap would be prepared on the issue.
How do you plan to cater to the needs of tourists from abroad?
After the Hockey World Cup and other international events hosted by Odisha, the state is more exposed to foreign tourists. Many stayed in the state then and appreciated OTDC. We got feedback on social media too. I will try to get as much feedback from tourists as possible to improve the tourism potential of the state. I will see how we can improve existing facilities. Prosperity could come to our state if we could work as per the feedback from the foreign tourists. I have planned to create a special Feedback Cell for the same.
Many tourism sites and OTDC properties were damaged by Fani. Any plan to revive that?
Many properties of OTDC were affected by the devastation caused by Cyclone Fani. Restoration is going on. I will see how we can speed up restoration work.