Bhubaneswar: Ahead of its foundation day on March 1, the Hotel and Restaurant Association of Odisha (HRAO) urged the state govt to prepare a master plan to develop 15 key tourist destinations and submit it to the Centre. In a media statement, the association said the govt should make short-term (annual) and long-term (4-year) projections of tourist footfall growth and assess the infrastructure required at major destinations. It also sought periodic reviews of these projections in meetings of the State Tourism Promotion Council. HRAO chairman JK Mohanty iterated the demand to extend Mahaparinirvan Express, which currently runs from New Delhi to Bodhgaya, up to Puri to boost Buddhist tourism in Odisha. Mohanty said the association is also pursuing improved domestic flight connectivity to and from Bodhgaya, Pune, Udaipur and Allahabad, and called for expediting the proposed international airport at Puri, positioning it as a major aviation hub in eastern India. The association requested the govt to provide industrial electricity tariff for hotels, both large and small, to support the tourism and hospitality sector. It also suggested appointing a leading actor or actress as the state’s tourism brand ambassador. HRAO further sought simplification of provisions under the SARAI Act, citing outdated regulatory requirements for modern hospitality establishments, and called for an easier process to obtain fire licences. Mohanty said the association’s 40th foundation day will bring together industry leaders, policymakers and tourism stakeholders to review past progress and outline a future roadmap. Commenting on the state budget, Mohanty said it reflects the govt’s focus on building a sustainable, infrastructure-led and globally competitive tourism sector. He said measures announced for destination development and ecological conservation would help Odisha emerge as a world-class tourism destination while protecting its cultural and natural heritage.
