Bhubaneswar: The tourism and hospitality industry will soon overcome the shock of Covid-19, Chief Secretary Asit Tripathy said.
Addressing a workshop on tourism here Wednesday, Tripathy said though tourism and hospitality industry was worst hit during the current Covid pandemic, new positive trends have started coming up.
He advised all the stakeholders to attach utmost importance to providing excellent experience to the guest visitors.
The Chief Secretary said, “Tourists coming to the state will be the real ambassadors and promoters of Odisha Tourism if they return back with best experience.”
He asked all hoteliers, tour operators and hospitality providers to make no compromise in the matters of health, hygiene, safety and security of the guest visitors.
Tripathy said, “Along with international tourism, Odisha is an attractive place for domestic tourism as well adding that all stakeholders should also focus on attracting more tourists from different States.”
He said with 39 percent of the geographic area under forest coverage, Odisha with 19 sanctuaries, one national park, two tiger reserves, largest lake, significant number of Irrawaddy dolphins, largest migrating birds, long seashore offer vast opportunities for nature and eco-tourism.
Because of the facilitating support of the state government, tourism activities in these areas have also surged up in the state in recent years, he said.
Odisha Hotelier and Secretary Hotel Association of India Jitendra Kumar Mohanty expressed confidence that with successful containment of the pandemic in the state, government would facilitate the hotel, hospitality and tourism industry to open up with all new normal conditions.
He assured that the hoteliers and restaurant owners would ensure all covid-19 prevention norms and would provide good hygienic practices.