Bhubaneswar, 17 June (H.S.): Odisha has intensified efforts to position its premier tourism destinations on the global map, with Deputy Chief Minister and Tourism Minister Pravati Parida chairing a state-level workshop on the development of world-class tourist destinations at Lokaseva Bhawan on Tuesday.

The workshop, organized by the Tourism Department, was held in line with the Ministry of Tourism, Government of India’s flagship initiative to develop at least one global-standard tourist destination in every state under the vision of “One State – One Global Destination” envisioned by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Addressing senior government officials, district administrators, industry representatives and tourism experts, Parida emphasized that tourism has the potential to become a major engine of Odisha’s economic growth, employment generation, entrepreneurship development and regional prosperity.

She called for a coordinated, convergence-driven approach involving all stakeholder departments to transform Odisha’s tourism destinations into globally competitive attractions equipped with world-class infrastructure, services and visitor experiences. The Deputy Chief Minister also stressed the importance of destination-specific development strategies that promote sustainable tourism while ensuring environmental conservation and active community participation.

During the workshop, the Tourism Department presented two key destinations proposed under the initiative—Puri-Konark and Hirakud.

The Puri-Konark circuit was showcased as a world-class heritage, spiritual and coastal tourism destination, highlighting the rich Jagannath culture, the Konark Sun Temple, Odisha’s scenic coastline, Chilika Lake and the heritage crafts village of Raghurajpur.

Hirakud, on the other hand, was projected as a high-potential eco-tourism, water tourism and adventure tourism hub centered around the Hirakud Reservoir and Debrigarh Wildlife Sanctuary.

Participants held extensive discussions on destination planning, establishment of Destination Management Organisations (DMOs), infrastructure enhancement, visitor management systems, sustainability measures, governance frameworks, private-sector participation and inter-departmental coordination.

The deliberations also focused on strengthening tourism amenities, improving last-mile connectivity, enhancing visitor experiences and attracting responsible investments under the Odisha Tourism Policy.

Tourism Commissioner-cum-Secretary Sachin Ramchandra Yadav outlined the department’s vision and roadmap for achieving global destination standards, while Tourism Director Deepankar Mohapatra presided over the proceedings.

Representatives from key government departments, including Works, Housing and Urban Development, Forest, Environment and Climate Change, Water Resources, Revenue and Disaster Management, Transport and Culture, along with district administrations, participated in the workshop.

Experts and representatives from organisations such as the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), National Institute of Water Sports (NIWS), Indian Mountaineering Foundation (IMF), Adventure Tour Operators Association of India (ATOAI), Indian Association of Tour Operators (IATO), Odisha Association of Tour Operators (OATO) and the Hotel & Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) also attended and offered recommendations for developing Odisha’s tourism destinations to international standards.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Monalisa Panda