TV
A few days ago in another forum, I wrote briefly on the abiding love of Odisha's policymakers for eulogising Odisha’s huge tourism potential and on how they don’t realise that the state has just 1000 Hotel Rooms in the 3-star category while Kerala has 15,000.
This stark truth would be a good enough reason to think of the investment potential in Hotels. The state has been suffering a huge accommodation deficit for years thereby denying itself the advantage of hosting enough number of high-spending tourists. Consequently, the state’s present infrastructure has become highly obsolete.
Our tourism minister should work tirelessly to facilitate 200 three-star Hotels in the state; should finalise 200 locations, earmark two acres of land per property; allot lands as per industrial policy norms and see that these Hotels are in operation in three years.
While doing so, the Hon’ble Minister should ensure that the picturesque Eastern Ghat region of the state-- which has remained totally neglected-- receives adequate attention. It’s difficult to believe that small pieces of land for each Hotel wouldn’t be available even in tribal regions.
The state must revisit the Chilka lake and ensure a harmonious development of both tourism and ecology. The lake should have at least 200 solar-powered Houseboats. Kerala backwaters have a large number of Houseboats.
A place like Satapara should develop into an idyllic lake town with beautiful villas, guesthouses, homestays, and public gardens. The boat operators there are as critical to Chilka Lake as Shikara operators to Dal Lake. They have to be the face of tourism and ensure tourists a happy experience on the lake.
India’s many temples have been attracting millions of devotees from various parts of the country and abroad. Some of these places have developed fast providing amenities and comforts to pilgrims. The hospitality industry has developed around. Highly revered but modest places of pilgrimage like Kedarnath today offer adequate accommodation to pilgrims; access to the place has improved substantially. Vaishno Devi temple is yet another place that provides healthy and modern infrastructure for millions of devotees.
We need to view the present situation in Odisha keeping in view such developments in the country. Odisha seems to have remained stuck with Puri, and of late, with an inadequate approach to eco-tourism. Let's look at Odagaon. close to the District Headquarters town of Nayagarh. The place is famous for its 800-year-old Temple of Raghunath Jiu. Odagaon is widely known as the second ShriKshetra. Three huge Gold Kumbhas on top of the Temple give it a unique character.
The idols are made of Neem wood. The place is revered as the place of Atri Muni and the Shaligram said to be worshipped by him is still worshipped in the sanctum sanctorum. It is the most revered Temple of Lord Ram in the state. A few kilometres away is Sarankul which is the place of Ladukeswar Mahadev.
Both these places cry for aesthetic development. We have been indifferent to the legitimate needs of such places. Both can attract devotees from distant parts of the country. We need adequate modern accommodation to make it happen. Nayagarh and Odagaon deserve two three-star hotels immediately. The famous temples would trigger the holistic development of the area and create jobs for our people.
Odagaon model should apply to places like UgraTara near Chilka, Tarini Pitha at Ghatagaon, Bhagabati Temple at Banapur, Charchika Temple at Kakatpur, Lord Akhandalamani at Ardi, Maa Samaleswari at Samblapur.
The sector is rich in possibilities. It can generate at least three lakh jobs within three years provided we stop talking about the state's potential and start working.
Hope the new Government of Odisha would listen and come up with an appropriate incentive package linked with successful completion of the projects to reward serious entrepreneurs.
(DISCLAIMER: This is an opinion piece. The views expressed are the author’s own and have nothing to do with OTV’s charter or views. OTV does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.)
