Speaking at a webinar on ‘Reviving tourism and hospitality in the new normal’, Dev discussed economic and social consequences of pandemic on the tourism and hospitality sector, feasibility of revival and exploring the cross-nation avenues towards the resuscitation in the new normal.
“Three policies have been enacted by the State to revive the tourism and hospitality industries. The focus is on for promotion of home stays at specific locations and heritage properties and deployment of advanced facilities to attract tourists. At present, the tourism policy is providing 20 percent subsidy on the capital investment with five pc extra subsidy to women entrepreneurs,” he said.
Dev said 360 places have been identified as tourism destinations. Of which, 44 locations will be prioritised for development with amenities and other facilities with an objective to improve the tourist footfalls and increase the average duration of stay, he added.
Chairperson of FLO Bhubaneswar Dharitri Patnaik said development of infrastructure for tourists has enormous potential of employment and income generation, foreign exchange earnings and values addition to the State.
National president of FLO Janhabi said though the tourism sector is a sustainable economic upliftment model, women’s role in the sector has been unrecognised, unacknowledged and under monetised. Author Jacqueline Lundquist and Stal Kumar Palbabu from International Trade Centre, Myanmar also spoke.
