Kolkata-based Sibani Sinha visits Puri every year with her family. She has been doing so for the last 10 years. For Sibani, Puri is a weekend getaway. However, this year she was a shade hesitant to come to Puri. The havoc created by Cyclone Fani in early May almost wiped out Puri from the country’s tourism map. Unable to make up her mind, Sibani had almost decided to postpone her visit but changed her mind after calling up a couple of travel agencies.
Finally, she came to Puri with her family, spent three nights, went to Konark and returned to Kolkata earlier this month. Puri was jolted after Cyclone Fani, the second most powerful cyclone to have hit Odisha, made landfall at the state’s tourism hotspot May 3, 2019. However, the undying spirit of the people of Odisha and efforts made by the administration has seen Puri fast getting back on its feet.
As we celebrate World Tourism Day September 27, Sunday POST speaks to state tourism department officials and other stakeholders on how the Golden Triangle of Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar is once again gearing up to welcome tourists ahead of the festive season.
Puri attracts a large number of tourists across throughout the year, with Durga Puja and the winters being the peak season. Although hotels had started operations within a month after Cyclone Fani hit Puri, tourists from neighbouring states had doubts about the pace of restoration. This made many cancel or postpone their plans. However, those who braved the idea of not postponing their plans are happy about their decision.
“I contacted some hotels and tour operators. They confirmed that the city has been somehow restored. I went to Puri with my family earlier this month and was satisfied with the service from the hotel where we had put up. I visit Puri every year and can gauge the extent of damage suffered by the town. The beach also has somewhat lost its beauty but the good thing is that restoration work is being done at a fast pace. It will take some time but I don’t see any point not coming to Puri this season. The hotels and transportation service seems to be function fine,” says Sibani.
According to sources, more than 12 million tourists visit Odisha every year, and the sector grows nine to 10 per cent annually. Current estimates suggest that damages bourn by public sector tourism properties amount to around Rs 25 crore, while the private sector has suffered damages of more than Rs 130 crore. The total loss of revenues for the tourism sector is being pegged at over Rs 1,300 crore. That certainly defines the scale of devastation.
Private tour operators say that although the tourism sector in the Fani affected areas are gradually limping back to normalcy, tourists mostly from neighbouring states of West Bengal, Jharkhand and Andhra Pradesh, who generally consider Puri a weekend getaway, are postponing their plans. This is primarily because they are not sure if they will get proper accommodation, food and service at the hotels. “Fani has severely affected tourism in Puri, Chilika, Konark, Gopalpur and other coastal areas. A large number of tourists, particularly foreigners have cancelled their bookings after Fani hit the state,” says, Debabrata Trpathy a tour operator in the city.
More than 50 per cent of the total visitors to the state visit the Golden Triangle. While authorities claim that there will be no long-term impact on the state’s tourism, the short-term outcome has been heartbreaking for the local community and tour operators in the state. The cyclone ripped through coastal Odisha Puri causing massive damage to hotels and other infrastructure in the area. Almost 300 hotels in Puri, mostly the ones close to the beach, were severely damaged. Meanwhile, a few optimist tourists are back on the beach. A few sea-facing hotels too have partly restored their services.
“We lost a lot of bookings during Raja in June and the ones who had made advance booking for this festive season too are in wait-and-see mode. I don’t foresee any long-term tourism impact, but the short-term impact is taking a toll on our revenues. There are also chances that there will be a sharp decline in tourists this winter. However, the good thing is that many have realised that the restoration work is on at a rapid pace and have finally started coming here,” adds Debabrata.
That said, Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) is leaving no stone unturned to get back the lost sheen of Puri and other affected tourism destinations like Konark, Chilka, Nuanai, Satapada and Chandaka. Hospitality properties, run by the OTDC under the brand name Panthanivas, too have also suffered extensive damage. Apart from tapping insurance, OTDC is in discussions with donors and international aid agencies to divert the existing loans and grants towards post-Fani reconstruction and revival projects. The government is also disbursing soft loans to private sector entities to fund their repair and revival requirements.
Tourists, who have been contemplating coming to Puri and other Fani-affected tourism spots in the state, may actually not regret visiting these places at all this season. Along with the restoration work the administration is taking this opportunity to introduce quite a few things that surely will bring a smile on the faces of tourists. The government is trying to attract investments in integrated beach destination development which would transform the day trip tendencies of tourists to a longer duration stay. While luxury and semi-luxury beach resort development all along the sea coast, including Talsari – Udaypur, Chandrabhaga, Shamuka (Puri) and Gopalpur would ensure perennial demand, special projects such as an annual beach camping festival, a revived surfing and sea sports festival at Chandrabhaga, and other flagship festivals such as the Sand Art Festival are being planned to attract more tourists.
“We have revived the process of mechanical beach cleaning, which will resume soon. Tourists coming to Chilika Lake will soon be able to avail cruise and boat house lodging facilities. Also, floating restaurants, which adorn the backwaters of Kerala, will soon be seen in our state’s brackish water lagoon,” says Vishal Kumar Dev, Commissioner-cum-Secretary, Odisha Tourism and Odisha Sports.
In fact, a blueprint has been prepared and in the initial phase, 32 acres of land at Rambha and 80 to 90 acres at Satapada have been identified by the government where infrastructure for the project will be developed.
In the last few years, nature camps have emerged as major tourist attractions. However, Cyclone Fani didn’t spare the eco-tourism sector of the state. While Puri suffered the most, financial losses were also sustained by hotels and tour operators in places like Konark, Satpada and Bhubaneswar. Major tourist spots of Odisha Forest Development Corporation Ltd (OFDCL) at these places were almost completely devastated. Three nature camps of OFDCL were severely damaged, while several others were partially affected. One of the major casualties was Nuanai nature camp near Balukhand sanctuary. Similarly, two of three nature camps in Chilika Wildlife Division too couldn’t survive the wrath of Cyclone Fani. “Infrastructure of the nature camp at Nuanai was severely damaged. The cyclone also destroyed the greenery of Balukhand sanctuary,” says Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (PCCF) Sandeep Tripathi, adding, “Restoration work will hopefully be completed at these camps before October so that tourist flow is not affected during winter. Early restoration will also help regenerate the livelihood support to local communities engaged in running and managing these nature camps.”
OFDCL eco-tourism cell project manager Swadesh Kumar Biswal too is hopeful that the restoration work will be complete before the arrival of winter. “Eco-tourism is promoted to conserve nature. At the same time it promoted to help those living in forests and those who are dependent on forest products for their livelihood. It is about feeling nature, caring for it and raising awareness on conservation of natural resources and wildlife. We are working hard to restoring these places at the earliest so that tourists don’t feel disappointed once they visit these spots. The restoration work is being done with help from Odisha Mining Corporation. The destinations will be ready for tourists before the arrival of winter in the state,” says Swadesh.
Also, OFDCL this year has launched two new destinations in the state —Berbera, situated at Banpur in Khurda and Barehipani Falls, a two tier waterfall located in Simlipal National Park, Mayurbhanj.
“We have AC room and eco-parks at these destinations along with attractions like cycling, boating and camping. We are also working on new projects at Tensa, Patora Dam at Nuapada, Nrusinghanath at Bolangir and Chandipur. We are also organising tourism workshops and road shows in popular metro cities to attract more tourists this year,” adds Swadesh.
SOYONG, OP
