Odisha forms tourism promotion council

The Odisha government has formed a tourism promotion council to monitor the development of tourism and related issues in the state. The chief minister will head the council, which will also include two representatives from two major airlines operating in the state – AirAsia and Air India – apart from two representatives each from the hotel and travel industry.

The secretaries of the home, finance, tourism, commerce and transport and handloom and textiles and handicrafts departments and the development commissioner, a senior representative from FICCI and CII will are be members of the council. Nominated members will serve for a maximum of three years and the council will meet at least once a year.

“The council will review implementation of the Odisha Tourism Policy and suggest changes in the framework,” said tourism director Nitin Jawale. The government also formed the district tourism promotion council with the revenue divisional commissioners as patron and collectors as chairperson.

The district councils will identify land parcels for tourism development in the respective district and act as a nodal agency to facilitate convergence of resources of various agencies to develop infrastructure and update information about the place on the district websites. It would also prepare a service provider database including lists of guides, freelancers, photographers and home stay addresses among others.

The councils’ executive body will run its daily affairs and meet at least once a month. The district tourist officer will serve as the secretary of the council and carry out several functions, including convening meetings, documentation and other duties.