Travel bazaar attracts 60 tour operators

Air Asia’s flights between Malaysia and Odisha would boost tourism industry in Odisha, said the state’s chief minister Naveen Patnaik.

Speaking at the 3-day Odisha Travel Bazaar (OTB) 2018 on 5 Oct 2018 in Bhubaneswar, he said the development of the commercial airport at Jharsuguda will serve as a major connection with the western part of the State.

Patnaik said the Jharsuguda airport will boost tribal tourism and develop travel and tourism facilities in western Odisha.

The Chief Minister said that the State was all set to host the 14th edition of the Hockey World Cup in November 2018 in which 16 world teams will be participating. This was bound to have a cascading effect of travel and tourism, he added.

He said Odisha Tourism is intensifying its strategy to promote its destinations by inviting more tour operators, travel agents, travel writers, TV team, through its hospitality programmes.

To add value to its products, the Department has started Light & Sound Show at Dhauli. Similar Light & Sound Show has started at Konark, followed by Khandagiri-Udayagiri.

Patnaik said the strength of Odisha is basically lay in its rich cultural heritage. But new tourism products such as ethnic tourism, Buddhist tourism, eco-tourism, MICE tourism have gained the momentum and attracts lot of tourists to the State for this unexplored sector.

This year’s OTB has 60 Foreign Tour Operators.

It is organized by Odisha Tourism and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry. fiinews.com