Odisha Has Potential To Become The Leading State in Promoting Eco Tourism, Says Vishal Dev

Odisha Has Potential To Become The Leading State in Promoting Eco Tourism, Says Vishal Dev

A one day workshop on Sustainable Eco-Tourism was jointly organised by the Department of Tourism and Department of Forest and Environment here on Wednesday

.The workshop with special focus on sustainability practices in ecotourism to support ‘Sustainable Tourism Criteria for India’, was attended by all the stakeholders, tour operators, forest department representatives from various districts involved in sustainable ecotourism models.

Speaking on the occasion, Tourism Director Nitin Jawale said, “The workshop aims to demystify the concept of sustainability in everyday tourism business by breaking it into steps that are easy to emulate and apply. We hope that a set of corrective and curative measures with ecological sensitivity and conservation of nature and community development would come up with this workshop.” He further said, “Some of the leading ecotourism practitioners have participated in the workshop and shared their insights on ways to create a lighter footprint and support local communities and environment.”

Speaking about nature camps at various places in the state, Additional Chief Secretary of Forest and Environment, Suresh Chandra Mohapatra informed, “32 nature camps have already been formed in the state and are functioning well. We have received positive reviews from tourists and visitors and are looking for more feasible ecotourism spots.”

Calling Odisha as one of the most beautiful states in the country, Commissioner cum Secretary of Tourism Department, Vishal Dev said, “Odisha has the potential to become a leading state in promoting ecotourism. All the stakeholders and tour operators need to be motivated to involve local people in the same.”

CMD, Indeco Hotels, Steve Borgia also spoke on the occasion among others