Odisha votes for sustainable eco-tourism in the state

With an aim to attract nature lovers to state, Odisha has laid focus on development of eco-tourism and sustainable practices in nature-based tourism. At a time when the state has introduced an eco-tourism policy, Forest Department has been declared as the nodal agency for development of eco-tourism in the State.

“An eco-tourism scheme has been approved with the financial implication of Rs 56 crore for five years for its sustainable development and promotions,” said Tourism Secretary Vishal Kumar Dev. He was speaking at a workshop on ‘Sustainable Eco-tourism’ jointly organised by Department of Tourism and Forest and Environment in collaboration with Ecotourism Society of India, the nodal body of eco-tourism, supported by Union Ministry of Tourism.

“Odisha is being projected as eco-tourism hub of the country. So far, 36 nature camps have been developed and nine are under progress. Employment opportunities have been created by engaging local communities in and around the eco-tourism destinations for maintaining the facilities like natural trails, watch towers and interpretation centres,” said Forest Secretary Suresh Mohapatra, reports TNIE.