Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

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3 Title Author Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism MRSS India Date October 2017 Copyright Disclaimer No part of this publication may be reproduced in any form by photo, photoprint, microfilm or any other means without written permission of FICCI and MRSS India The information and opinions contained in this document have been compiled or arrived at from sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty expressed is made to their accuracy, completeness or correctness. This document is for information purpose only. The information contained in this document is published for the assistance of the recipient but is not to be relied upon as authoritative or taken in substitution for the exercise of judgment by any recipient. This document is not intended to be a substitute for professional, technical or legal advice. All opinions expressed in this document are subject to change without notice. Neither MRSS India and FICCI, nor other legal entities in the group to which they belong, accept any liability whatsoever for any direct or consequential loss however arising from any use of this document or its contents or otherwise arising inconnection herewith. Many of the conclusions and inferences are specific inferences made by MRSS India in their expert capacity specifically in tourism sector and does not have any correlation with financing related outlook that as a research organization may have. Contact Address FICCI Headquarters Rahul Chakravarty Consultant,Tourism Federation House 1, Tansen Marg New Delhi Tel : Direct/ (Ext.342) Fax : rahul.chakravarty@ficci.com Majestic Research Services and Solutions Limited Chandramouli Guin Head - Government Practice MRSS India Ltd. C-19, II & III Floor, D.D.A. Okhla Sheds, Behind Crowne Plaza, Okhla Phase I New Delhi Mob : For Further Information manish.ahuja@ficci.com samanda.syiem@ficci.com arshad.danish@ficci.com chandramouli.guin@mrssindia.com

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5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1) Introduction 5 a) Prelude 5 b) Odisha as a tourism destination 6 2) Contribution of Tourism to the State GDP of Odisha 7 3) A snapshot of tourist visits to the State 7 b) Domestic Tourist Visits 10 i) Major source market of domestic tourists to Odisha:- 10 4) Seasonal Flow of Tourists in Odisha 11 5) Tourist Destinations in Odisha 12 a) Established locations 12 b) District wise Tourist visits 13 c) Major themes marketed by Odisha Tourism 14 d) Top focus areas for attracting Tourists 15 i) Golden Triangle 15 ii) Buddhist Circuit or the Diamond Triangle 16 iii) Temples & Monuments 17 iv) Music & Dance Festivals 17 e) Unexplored Destinations 18 f) Documented Unconventional experiences 19 6) Hospitality infrastructure in Odisha 19 a) Accommodation Units 19 b) Point to point connectivity 21 7) Revamping Odisha into New Disha Initiatives taken 21 a) Tourist Flow 21 b) Government thrust to promote tourism in the state Odisha Tourism Policy i) Key features of Odisha Tourism policy to promote private investment 23 c) Revamping Odisha into New Disha Initiatives undertaken 24 i) Specific Tourism related initiatives 24 ii) Campaign in mainstream and social media 25 iii) Some key steps taken to bring inflow of tourists 26 8) Primary Survey of Tourists visiting Odisha 27 9) FICCI MRSS Ten Point Suggestions to boost tourism in the State 33 Bibliography 34

6 Executive Summary Odisha, the maritime state located in the eastern fringes of the country has been a root to the culture, heritage, ethnicity scenic beaches and industrial hubs of the country. The State has attracted tourist with its mysticism, virile culture and works of art and crafts since time immemorial. Off Late, Odisha has started being aggressive in attracting tourists to visit its abode by rapidly re-inventing and repackaging the type of product it has to offer the tourism world. What is incredible is the fact that a considerable part of Odisha is still unexplored and still being discovered. The USP of the State in terms of its tourism resource, which sets it apart from other states, can be very well understood from the figure below. This depicts the tourism offering of Odisha to the world. Cultural Heritage Religious Tourism Handicraft s Bio - Diversity Fairs & Festivals Beaches Historical Artifacts MICE An analysis of Domestic as well as foreign tourists from around the world indicates that the state has an indelible footprint in the tourism map of the country as well as the world. Visitors from only a few domestic States/ UT s refrain from visiting the 6 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

7 State, which otherwise is well on its way to lead the industrial revolution in the east with it s focus on specific areas of Manufacturing, ESDM, IoT, Automation, Heavy Engineering etc. This will boost business tourism and in association with it bring along the subsets like, Leisure, Cruise (thanks to the large coastline) and other top revenue churners in the tourism domain. An analysis for foreign tourist visit shows that all continents with the exception of Western Europe has grown for the period under consideration. High growth rates can be observed for South Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and South East Asia. Thanks to the Budhdhist resources that throng the state, the state will remain a top draw for the visitors from the South East and South Asian countries. Off late, a few new concepts of tourism has started making a headaway in the Odisha tourism horizon. The transformation story has been depicted in the diagram below Traditional Concepts of Tourism Emerging Concepts of Tourism Future Tourism Concepts Monuments Art & Craft Festival Tribal Heritage Beaches Budhdhist Circuit Dance & Music Nature Eco Tourism Adventure Tourism Medical Tourism MICE Tourism Knowledge Tourism Caravan tourism Wellness Tourism Cruise Tourism Sand Art Tourism The State Government has an ambitious plan to grow tourists at the brisk pace of 15% for the next couple of years. It plans to overcome this ambitious target for the next few years with targeted intervention in the following areas as depicted in the figure below. The specific steps taken in transfrming Odisha to New Disha is as follows:- Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 7

8 Better Connectivity Targetted Marketing & Promotion Upgraded Infrastructur e Ease of Doing Business 8 Pronged Strategy to increase tourist flow Better Civic Amenities Easy Land Availability Beefed up safety & Security Quality Power Supply Recasting and revamping the State Tourism Policy with emphasis on o o o o o o o o o To promote Sustainable & Green Tourism To preserve, enrich and promote Odisha s unique cultural heritage, natural recourses and environment with a view to achieve inclusive development To address the regulatory & tourism promotion/ development functions in Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode at all levels in an effective and well-coordinated manner. To promote Odisha as one stop destination To promote circuit tourism in association with other State of Eastern Zone To upgrade skill & professionalism amongst stakeholders To promote digital tourism To promote responsible tourism To promote barrier-free tourism Aggressive Outbound Marketing Ensuring Tourist Safety & Security 8 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

9 Training, IT Integration and Digital Literacy Information Dissemination in digital channels Identification of new theme based destinations Campaign in mainstream and social media Some key steps taken to bring inflow of tourists o o o Investor Friendly Tourism Policy Dhauli Light and Sound Show Signing of MoU s With Air Asia With Aditya Birla Group o Sponsoring Sports Activities o Initiation of Odisha Water Sports Guidelines 2017 o o o o o Revised Guidelines for identification of new tourism centres of Odisha Ensuring safety & security of tourists Faster implementation of Shamuka beach project Outdoor Branding of Odisha Tourism Development of Coastal Circuit MRSS India has conducted survey of approx. 400 foreign tourists and 400 domestic tourists at major entry/ exit points as well as destinations. The key findings from the two groups are as depicted in the Table below:- Parameters Domestic Foreign Reasons for visit to the Cultural & Pilgrimage Cultural & Business State Information collection Word of Mouth/ Digital Modes India Tourism Offices/ State Tourism Offices/ Digital channels Perception Great historical significance and better value for money against competition Great historical significance and famous in the world Top areas to focus for the State Tourism Department Accommodation seems to be the only blip Security concerns, Toilets, Weather Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 9

10 Taking a peek at the various steps undertaken by the State Government, collated data as well as the State legacy FICCI MRSS suggests the following steps for the resurgence of Odisha as a new tourism hotspot within the Indian union:- a) Showcase investors the value in investing in ODISHA The investors have to be lured into Odisha by showcasing the rich cultural heritage and introducing new concepts conceived off/ implemented. b) Start an online newsletter especially for the investor / Tourist community This is going to be thedocument that is going to lure investor community as well as the visitors. It would have snapshots of policy highlights, implementation steps in addition to the new investments made in certain fields. This can be introduced in a quarterly frequency and based on the popularity, can be converted into a monthly affair. c) Highlight model investments made in the State Model investments made in the State can be highlighted in the digital, print and electronic media and blasted at regular intervals to the relevant social and physical formats. d) Exploit the Digital Channel to disseminate investment success stories The State has a wide array of Digital Channels, which can be leveraged to disseminate the success stories. e) Reward and Recognition for largest investor/ best investor/ most innovative investor/ Green investor etc in ODISHA Tourism Mart recognition of Investors in an appropriate forum would help generating interest amongst the investor community and broadbase the investor base considerably. f) Identify new Destinations, implement single window clearance to investors in lightning speed With the research wing in place, this is sure to speed up in coming times g) Encourage Travel writers, Bloggers, Reviewers as a follow up action This would be a influence the influencer model of implementation. Encouraging these influencers to write about the investment climate in Odisha as well as the new destinations will help in generating awareness featuring positive stories about the state. h) Conduct a Satisfaction Survey for the Investors/ Tourists It is suggested thatan Investor/ Tourist Confidence Survey may be conducted amongst Investors in Odisha Tourism vis a vis Investors in Tourism in adjoining States/ main crowd pullers. This will provide a few high points or learnings to work on. i) Leverage the power of data Data and analytics are the mainstay of future. This needs to be leveraged and a dedicated insight session needs to be undertaken in order to provide relevant inputs to the state strategy team. j) Learn from around the world Odisha State Tourism should take up specific case studies from around the world and emulate the methodology adopted in order to boost and sustain tourist flow. This is to be handled by the state research & strategy team. 10 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

11 1 Introduction a) Prelude The State of Odisha, has been a top draw for tourism in the eastern fringes of the country of India with Bay of Bengal located in the South. It is the modern name of the ancient nation of Kalinga, which was invaded by the Maurya Emperor Ashoka in 261 BC. The modern state of Odisha was established on 1 April 1936 at Kanika Palace, Cuttack, as a province in India, and consists predominantly of Odia speakers. Odisha is the ninth largest state by area in India, and the eleventh largest by population as per census Odisha lies between the latitudes N and N, and between longitudes E and E. The state has an area of 155,707 km2, which is 4.87% of total area of India, along with a sprawling coastline of 450 kms. Odia is the official and most widely spoken language with 93.33% Odia speakers according to linguistic survey. According to a Forest Survey of India report released in 2012, Odisha has 48,903 km2 of forests which cover 31.41% of the state s total area. Three-quarters of the state is covered in mountain ranges. Deep and broad valleys have been made in them by rivers. These valleys have fertile soil and are densely populated. Odisha also has plateaus and rolling uplands, which have lower elevation than the plateaus. The narrow, level coastal strip, including the Mahanadi River delta supports the bulk of the population. The interior of the state is mountainous and sparsely populated. There are 30 districts in the State which has been placed under three different revenue divisions. The divisions are North, South and Central, with their headquarters at Sambalpur, Berhampur and Cuttack respectively. Each division consists of 10 districts, and has as its administrative head a Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC). As per Ministry of Statistics and Programme Implementation (MOSPI), the economy of Odisha is showing a steady increase over the last few years as depicted in the chart below. The State GDP is growing at a CAGR of 14% for the period Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 11

12 Odisha is a natural resources and a large coastline. Odisha has emerged as the most preferred destination for overseas investors with investment proposals. It contains, 33% Iron, 71% Bauxite, 32% Manganese, 97% Chromite, 95% Nickel and 28% coal of national reserves The state is attracting an unprecedented amount of investment in aluminium, coal-based power plants, petrochemicals, and information technology as well. b) Odisha as a tourism destination The State of Odisha has attracted tourists from time immemorial. A few unique and top draw resources which sets it apart from the rest of the States within the Indian Union are as indicated in the figure below:- Cultural Heritage Religious Tourism Handicraft s Bio - Diversity Fairs & Festivals Beaches Historical Artifacts MICE A depiction of the prominent tourist spots in the State has been depicted in the map elucidated below:- 12 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

13 The State has a wide array of resources which has been elaborated in the map above. Thus Odisha has a touch of every conceivable type of tourism concepts that operates in the world, starting from religious to leisure, business to luxury, heritage to nature, wildlife to cultural. Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 13

14 2 Contribution of Tourism to the State GDP of Odisha As per Economic Survey , based on a tourist profile survey was conducted during , it is found that the average duration and spending of a domestic tourist is 3.7 days and Rs. 2,763 per day respectively while that of a foreign tourist is 11 days and Rs.4,167 per day. Estimated inflow of money to the State through tourist spending during the year has been assessed at Rs crore, a rise of 8.74 percent over Table 5.24 gives detailed information on this sub-sector since Year Domestic tourists Foreign tourists Source: Economic Survey of Odisha, Total Growth rate 14 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

15 3 A snapshot of tourist visits to the State a) Foreign Tourist Arrival Trends:- Foreign Tourist Arrival trends indicate an upward trend in consonance with the general trend in the country. Though the no. of tourist visits are considerably lesser than that of the general inbound tourist arrivals in the country, but it is picking up very fast. The State Government has realised the vast potential tourism has to offer and the revenue foreign tourist arrivals create. Thus it has revamped its offerings and has set a very ambitious target for itself in coming times. The State has not only grown but has also been able to successfully attract and retain foreign tourist visits over the years as it has been depicted in the chart below. 90,000 80,000 70,000 60,000 50,000 40,000 30,000 20,000 10,000-39, , ,966 45, , ,722 64, ,675 71,426 66, CAGR 7.2% CAGR 6.9% 76, Foreign Tourist Visit - Odisha (Nos) Foreign Tourist arrival - India (Mn Nos) An analysis of the inbound tourist flow from the point of origin of the foreign tourists for the years indicates the following trends as depicted in the diagram below Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 15

16 Zone Foreign Tourist Visits growth rate for Odisha ( period) North America 1.1 Central & South America 6.8 Australia 21.4 Western Europe -6.0 Eastern Europe 35.6 West Asia 6.8 South Asia 81.6 South East Asia 34.9 East Asia 15.5 Africa 48.3 Source : Ministry of Tourism, Government of India, Orissa Tourism As indicated in the table above, all continents with the exception of Western Europe has grown for the period under consideration. High growth rates can be observed for South Asia, Africa, Eastern Europe and South East Asia. USA, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, UK, Japan, China contribute major visitors to the State of Odisha. This is a matter of great pride that the top most contributors of Indian Tourism are also the top most contributor of the Odisha Tourism and it has its expanse spread all across the Northern hemisphere. Parameter Country of Origin Growth rate ( period) in % High Growth Rates Hongkong (Above 50%) Bangladesh Nepal CIS 92.9 Spain 68.0 South Africa 67.4 Singapore 65.6 Malaysia 54.1 Hungary 45.9 Switzerland 35.5 Canada 33.5 Czechoslovakia Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

17 Parameter Country of Origin Growth rate ( period) in % Medium Growth Maldives 25.6 Rates (Between 10 Japan %) Portugal 21.5 New Zealand 20.9 Australia 20.4 Sweden 14.1 Low Growth Rates (Less than 10%) Top Countries of Tourist origin in decreasing order of tourist arrivals (for the year 2016) b) Domestic Tourist Visits Austria, Norway, Poland, Italy, Mexico, Israel, Argentina, Belgium, Brazil, Thailand, Denmark, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Philippines, Turkey, Ireland, Indonesia, Bahrain, Nigeria, Tanzania, France, China, Finland, USA, Iran, UK, Germany, Kenya, Mauritius, Ethiopia, Netherlands, Pakistan USA, UK, Japan, France, Germany, Italy, China, Netherlands, Australia, CIS, South Africa, Nepal, Bangladesh, Korea, Canada, Spain, Switzerland, Malaysia, Belgium, Finland An analysis of domestic tourist visits for the year indicates the fact that the State has grown in leaps and bounds over the last few years. Keeping the national trend alive, the State has grown in leaps and bounds as far as domestic tourist visits to the State is concerned. 18,000,000 1, ,800 16,000,000 1, ,600 14,000,000 12,000,000 1, CAGR 14.1% 1, , ,400 1,200 10,000, ,000 8,000,000 6,000,000 4,000,000 2,000, ,591,615 8,271,257 9,053,086 9,800,135 10,790,622 11,786,117 CAGR 9.2% 12,842, Domestic Tourist Visit - Odisha (Nos) Domestic Tourist arrival - India (Mn Nos) Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 17

18 i) Major source market of domestic tourists to Odisha:- The major source market of domestic tourists to the State of Odisha can be depicted in the figure below:- domestic tourists to the State of Odisha can be depicted in the figure below:- It can thus be elucidated from the figure above that the State of Odisha predominantly draws its tourists from the States as shown. The growth rates for the period can be elucidated in the diagram below. State of Origin Growth rate ( period) in % West Bengal 10.1 Andhra Pradesh 8.6 Telangana 7.8 Bihar 8.3 Jharkhand 8.4 Madhya Pradesh 8.5 Chhattisgarh 8.5 Maharashtra 8.6 Uttar Pradesh 8.5 Uttarakhand 7.9 Tamil Nadu Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

19 Country of Origin Growth rate ( period) in % Karnataka 8.1 Gujarat 8.0 Rajasthan -3.1 Assam 6.4 Punjab 6.8 Haryana 4.8 Kerala 5.4 New Delhi 6.6 Tripura 1.7 Goa Puducherry -7.4 Jammu & Kashmir 9.0 Odisha 9.0 Other States / UT 23.6 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 19

20 4 Seasonal Flow of Tourists in Odisha Odisha is a maritime state and the weather is hot and humid especially in summer months. This is also prone to frequent lashing of deep depressions owing to the proximity of Bay of Bengal. Hence, 3 months in an year it becomes difficult for the tourists to visit the State. As per feedback from the tour operators and travel experts, which was conducted by the researchers of MRSS, the following is the peak and lean period of foreign tourists:- Lean Season April to September Peak Season October to March 20 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

21 5 Tourist Destinations in Odisha a) Established locations The State has identified 356 tourism destinations across all 30 districts of the State. A break up of districtwise no. of tourism destinations have been elucidated in the diagram below. It reveals the fact that Balasore, Cuttack, Ganjam, Jajpur, Kalahandi, Khordha, Mayurbhanj and Puri lead the State in terms of total destination it has to offer. 28 Districtwise Tourism Destinations Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 21

22 From the aforesaid diagram, the districts can be segmented into the following categories as discussed below:- High Medium Low Cuttack Kalahandi Balangir Balasore Keonjhar Boudh Ganjam Nayagarh Deogarh Puri Koraput Gajapati Jajpur Sundergarh Jagatsinghpur Khardaha Angul Jhasuguda Mayurbhanj Bhadrak Kandhamal Kendrapara Malkangiri Bargarh Nuapara Nawarangpur Raygada Sambalpur Sundergarh b) District wise Tourist visits District wise top draws for tourism in the state of Odisha can be depicted in the table below. District Angul Balasore Bargarh Bhadrak Balangir Boudh Cuttack Deogarh Dhenkanal Gajapati Ganjam Jagatsinghpur Jajpur Jhasuguda Kalahandi Kandhamal Top 3 Destinations Angul, Deulajhari, Hingula Pitha Chandaneshwar, Chandipur, Balaramgadi Nrusimhanath, Bargarh, Barpali Aradi, Chandbali, Dhamnagar Balangir, Harishankar, Patnagarh Charisambhu, Boudh, Charichchak Cuttack, Dhabaleshwar, Banki Pradhanpat, Kailash Kapilas, Joranda, Saptasajya Paralakhemundi, Mahendragiri, Harabhangi Berhampur, Taratarini, Gopalpur Jhankad, Paradeep, Gadakujanga Jajpur, Chandikhol, Chhatia Jharsuguda, Kuilighughar, Gujapahar Bhawanipatna, Ampani, Phurlijharan Phulbani, Daringibari, Chakapada 22 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

23 District Kendrapara Keonjhar Khordha Koraput Malkangiri Mayurbhanj Nawapara Nawrangpur Nayagarh Puri Rayagada Sambalpur Subarnapur Sundargarh Top 3 Destinations Kendrapara, Aul, Bhitarkanika Sanaghagara, Sitabinji, Murgamahadev Nandankanan, Bhbaneshwar, Dhauli Gupteshwar, Koraput, Nandapur Satiguda, Malkangiri, Motu Khiching, Deokund, Baripada Nawapara, Patora, Patalganga Papadahandi, Kelia, Nawarangpur Odagaon, Jamupatna, Kantilo Puri, Konark, Chilika Chatikona, Hatipathar, Devagiri Sambalpur, Hirakud, Huma Sonpur, Binika, Charada Rourkela, Vedvyas, Khandadhar c) Major themes marketed by Odisha Tourism The major themes marketed by Odisha tourism hovers round the following aspects as depicted in the diagram below Monuments Art & Craft Festival Tribal Heritage Beaches Budhdhist Circuit Dance & Music Nature Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 23

24 Traditional Concepts of Tourism Emerging Concepts of Tourism Future Tourism Concepts Monuments Eco Tourism Knowledge Tourism Art & Craft Adventure Tourism Caravan tourism Festival Medical Tourism Wellness Tourism Tribal Heritage MICE Tourism Cruise Tourism Beaches Sand Art Tourism Budhdhist Circuit Dance & Music Nature d) Top focus areas for attracting Tourists i) Golden Triangle The aforesaid tourism concepts in Odisha comprises of Traditional products as depicted above. Off late, a few new concepts of tourism has started making a headaway in the Odisha tourism horizon. This has been depicted in the diagram below:- The Golden Triangle of Bhubaneswar-Puri- Konark is the biggest tourist attraction. Puri, the shrine of Lord Jagannath, one of the oldest pilgrimage centres, famous for the Car festival, attracts lakhs of pilgrims round the year. The world famous Sun Temple, a UNESCO heritage sites at Konark (12th century), the temple city of Bhubaneswar (9th century) &Puri (11th century). 24 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

25 ii) Buddhist Circuit or the Diamond Triangle As discernible from the discussion above, a considerable no. of foreign tourists originate from South East Asia and East Asian countries. The main attraction for those tourists is the rich saga of Buddism that dots this great land. The Government of Odisha understands the fact that it is the largest foreign tourist attractor Battle of Kalinga in 261 B.C. Emperor Ashok renounced war, embraced Buddhism. The spot Dhauli is located 10 kn from Bhubaneswar. The remains at Ratnagiri-Lalitgiri-Udayagiri are a treasure house of Buddhist Heritage Lord Buddha s Relic in golden casket excavated at Lalitgiri World class Buddhist Museums at Lalitgiri and Ratnagiri Ashokan Edicts (261 BC) at Dhauligiri are a key attraction International Buddhist Festival celebrated every year Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 25

26 iii) Temples & Monuments The temples of Odisha have a majestic grandeur and remind us of the Indo Aryan style of architecture. The most popular temple in Odisha is the Jagannath Temple in Puri; however one can visit some of the following equally popular temples there and awaken their religious self. iv) Music & Dance Festivals The state is home to Odissi, one of the eight classical dance forms of India. It also has many forms of folk and tribal dances such as Bharat Natyam and Chhau. Odissi is the oldest surviving dance form in India, according to archaeological evidence. It dates back to 2,000 years as stated by literature from 200 BC. The major festivals under this category are as follows:- Konark Festival The official Konark Festival, organized by Odisha Tourism, features a range of Indian classical dance performances including Odissi, Bharatnatyam, and Kathak. It is an important tourist attraction for the state. Mukteshwar Dance Festival The Mukteshwar Dance Festival concentrates exclusively on Odissi dance. It features solo, duet and group Odissi performances by young and senior artists. This draws danseuses from across the country. Rajarani Music Festival The Rajarani Music Festival promotes the major classical music traditions of India. Performances by well-known Odissi and Hindustani vocal and music maestros bring the architectural beauty of the Rajarani temple alive. The fasival is known far and wide. 26 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

27 Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav The Dhauli-Kalinga Mahotsav is hosted by the Odisha Dance Academy (ODA) and Art Vision. It combines martial dance, which celebrates the victory of peace over war, with classical and folk dances of the different disciplines of the State. Chhau Festival To represent the tribal life and traditional dances of Orissa, Chhau festival is celebrated with great enthusiasm in the whole of Orrisa. This festival is primarily attached to the Odissi dance form- Mayurbhanj Chhau. During this festival, people of Orissa worship Lord Shiva. The trained classical dancers perform the act of Chhau with masks covering their faces. This also takes part in neighbouring states but the one is Odisha is famous as well. e) Unexplored Destinations Chandragiri Surrounded by picturesque landscape, tropical forest, gurgling rivers, and exquisite mountain slopes, Chandragiri s monuments are still miles away from the civilization. It is the mini Tibet of Odisha. When one visits the monastery, they can find the traditional Tibetan Buddhist colourful prayer flags to welcome them. The Tibetan refugees that have settled there call this divine abode Phuntsokling, which translates to - Land of Happiness and Plenty. Pir Jahania Beach Pir Jahania beach is one of the unexplored beaches of Odisha and that s what makes it more beautiful. Away from the hustle bustle of the city this beach is perfect for long walks on sandy beaches and watching the beautiful sunset. Another interesting thing about this place is that the famous shrine of Pir Jahania is situated here, hence the name. The temple does not follow any religion, any person can come to this temple and take blessings. Barehipani Waterfall Barehipani Falls is a two-tiered waterfall located in the Simlipal National Park in Mayurbhanj district, Odisha. It is one of the highest waterfalls in Odisha. If someone likes adventure and fancy the rush of water and the sound of water when it falls on stones then this is the place to be. The waterfall that originates from the river Budhabalanga falls from the heights of the Simlipal ranges to create these majestic 1200 foot (399 meters) falls. A visit to Simlipal is incomplete without it. Biranchi Narayan Temple, Ganjam Odisha is known for its temples. One such temple is the Biranchi Narayan Temple in Ganjam district. Known as the Wooden Konark, the temple was built in 1970 by King Srikar Bhanja. It is popular among the locals for its exquisite architecture, beautiful wood carvings and wall paintings. Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 27

28 Khasada Waterfall The waterfall is named after a small village Khasada in Gajapati district of Odisha. This waterfall keeps flowing throughout the year and is a captivating sight for the visitors. This beauty is a must-visit for travelers who want to enjoy the calm and tranquility of nature. Duduma Waterfall Jeypore Surrounded by the dense forests of Koraput, this meters high waterfall is formed by the Machhakund River in Jeypore. The waterfall, which is a picturesque sight for all the travelers, is a perfect destination to have picnics or daylong trips. The best time to visit these waterfalls is during the monsoon season as then they are in their full majestic forms. Debrigarh Debrigarh is the perfect destination for all the adventurers out there. If one wants to experience the wild in all its glory, then this is the place to be. Spread over a sprawling area near the Hirakund dam in Sambalpur, this wildlife sanctuary is dense with flora and fauna. The sanctuary is also known for the waterfalls in the hillsides that are present there. The forest also has some interesting history as the freedom fighter Veer Surendra Sai sought refuge in this dense forest to fight guerrilla wars against the British. Rishikulya Beach Rushikulya Beach is one of the most beautiful and serene seashores that will make one feel like you are at the paradise already. A hub for all the nature and landscape lovers, this beach is sure to delight you beyond limit. f) Documented Unconventional experiences 28 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

29 The International Sand Art Festival is a remarkable cultural event held by the Orissa Tourism Department. Held at the Chandrabhaga Beach, 3 km from Konark, the sand art festival is an event for people in love with sand creations. It is one of the events which highlights Orissa and its wonderful tourism opportunities. The Sand festival celebrates sand sculptures produced by skillful sand artists. Not just the traditional sand sculptures, get ready for all kinds of exhibits. One can expect sand, stone, bronze or wood, created by skillful sand artists. Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 29

30 6 Hospitality infrastructure in Odisha a) Accommodation Units The trend in the standard of hotels in terms of servicing lower spending groups (LSG), middle spending groups (MSG) and high spending groups (HSG) from 2004 to 2015 can be seen from figure below. The no. of accommodation units and the CAGR for the same period has been depicted in the graph below. The fastest growing category is the HSG category HSG MSG LSG Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

31 At present, the accommodation units in different category of hotels are as depicted in the points below Hotels with rooms and Beds 18 Star Category Hotels with 1206 rooms 433 High Spending Groups with rooms 474 Middle Spending Groups with 9079 rooms 916 Low Spending Groups with rooms A year wise comparison of No. of rooms vis a vis no of beds have been depicted in the figure below b) Point to point connectivity 40 flights/ day by Air India, Go Air, Indigo, Vistara connect Bhubaneswar to major cities (Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Banaras etc.). International operations by Air India from Bhubaneswar has started. Bhubaneswar is connected by Super-fast Express, Rajdhani Express, Satabdi Express, to name a few. Excellent network of highways - National: (4,500 kms) and State (5,100 km) reaching tourist spots through scenic landscapes Dhamra, Paradip and Gopalpur ports can receive charter cruise lines Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 31

32 7 Revamping Odisha into New Disha Initiatives taken a) Tourist Flow The tourist flow which has been growing at a CAGR of 9% for the period is projected to grow at a brisk pace of 15% for the next couple of years. The State Government plans to overcome this ambitious target for the next few years with targeted intervention in the following areas as depicted in the figure below. Targetted Marketin g & Promotio n Better Connectiv ity Upgraded Infrastruc ture Ease of Doing Business Strategy to increase tourist flow Better Civic Amenities Easy Land Availabilit y Beefed up safety & Security Quality Power Supply 32 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

33 b) Government thrust to promote tourism in the state Odisha Tourism Policy 2016 The Industrial Policy Resolution (IPR) 2015 was announced in August, In the IPR, 2015, Tourism was declared as apriority industry. In IPR, 2015 the fiscal incentives proposed for priority sector industries are lucrative than the Tourism Policy, Therefore, The State Government have published Odisha Tourism Policy, 2016 with following objectives: To promote Sustainable & Green Tourism with a view to create employment opportunities and to bring about socio-economic benefits to the community. To preserve, enrich and promote Odisha s unique cultural heritage, natural recourses and environment with a view to achieve inclusive development; addressing the regulatory & tourism promotion/ development functions in Private Public Partnership (PPP) mode at all levels in an effective and well coordinated manner. To promote Odisha as one stop destination to experience its great history, culture society and natural beauty so as to boost foreign & domestic tourist arrival in the State. To promote circuit tourism in association with other State of Eastern Zone of the country to facilitate easy arrival and movement of the tourist. To upgrade skill & professionalism and promote employment opportunities in tourism sector. To promote digital tourism To promote responsible tourism and developed tourism product in an environment friendly manner. To promote barrier-free tourism i) Key features of Odisha Tourism policy to promote private investment Through Incentives, Exmeption, Subsidies Production of Tourism Promotion Literature 20% reimbursement of production cost of Odisha Tourism Literature / Film, ceiling Rs.50,000/- per annum Incentive for Tourist Transport Industry (registered as contract carriage only on new air conditioned tourist coach with minimum 25 seats) Exemption on registration charges 50% concession on permit charges VAT reimbursement Reimbursement of 30% of the net VAT paid, Ceiling Rs.10 lakh per annum for a period of 5 years. Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 33

34 Incentive for the Entertainment Industry Reimbursement of Entertainment Tax for a period of 5 years Participation in Overseas Tourism Events 50% reimbursement of stall rent & travel expenses ceiling, Rs.75,000/- for participating in overseas tourism events, maximum two events in a year Capital Investment Subsidy % on the total project cost, ceiling Rs lakh Interest subsidy 3 5 % interest subsidy ceiling, Rs.1 Cr. for a total period of 5 7 years Exemption on Stamp Duty 50% exemption on stamp duty on purchase of land for the new project. Identifying Special Tourism Zones Identify and notify many regions of the state with huge tourism potential and to have more focused intervention Develop quality roads, power & water supplies and sanitation Provision for separate incentives Through Non Financial Incentives Provide facilitation in obtaining permissions and clearances Provision for Single Window, Escort Officer etc to fast-track the clearances Assist in promotion of private tourism projects at national & international levels Facilitating online reservation of hotels / vehicles / tour packages Familiarization tour, training for tour operators, guides, taxi & auto drivers Continuous Development of Land Bank 3000 acres of land bank awaiting environmental clearences Allotment of land at concessional rates Land bank developed at key tourist locations Effort to identify more land to be a continuous process Facilitate investors to get land for tourism projects 34 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

35 Avail preferential incentives by exploring new possibilities Cruise & House Boats Wellness & Eco-Tourism Projects Aquariums, Amusement & Water Parks Beach & Water Sports Ropeways, Adventure & Caravan Tourism Golf Courses Tourism & Hospitality Training Institutes Buddhist & Heritage Tourism Projects MICE, Knowledge & Medical Tourism Projects c) Revamping Odisha into New Disha Initiatives undertaken i) Specific Tourism related initiatives The specific marketing initiatives undertaken by Odisha tourism are as follows Outbound Marketing o Odisha Tourism has been participating in a number of tourist road-shows, events, fairs and festivals within and outside the country for promotion of tourism o Creating awareness about the tourist potential of the state through advertisements in leading print and electronic media, websites, social media, and other such mediums Tourist Safety & Security o Tourist Police Patrolling facility has been introduced in Puri-Chandrabhaga and Puri-Satapada zones. o A Tourist Police Cell at Puri has been established and tourist police cells at Konark, Dhauli. Lingaraj Temple, Nandankanan, Satapada, Chandipur, Gopalpur, etc., are proposed to come up. Training, IT Integration and Digital Literacy o Currently the State Government is providing 2% of budget for the IT and IT enabled services as per the guidelines of the Government of Odisha. o o Going forward when e-governance is going to change into m-governance, it will allow the state to leverage the power of the mobile handset to provide new kinds of services to the tourists. Systems have been upgraded to providing guide training Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 35

36 Information Dissemination o Good Online presence. Leading websites include o o o o A dedicated facebook page o A dedicated twitter handle o A dedicated logo, which sets it apart from other states while representing the art and culture Identification of new theme based destinations Districts Name of the destination New destinations identified in 2016 Description of destinations and its importance Emerging /New Destination Deogarh Kurudkut Water Fall And Jungle Adventure Emerging Gajapati Gandahati Water Fall Near To Chandragiri Emerging Buddhist Site Nayagarh Baisipalli Famous for Gharial Chrocodile Emerging which is near To Satkosiagorge. Eco Tourism in Mahanadi basin Badmul/ Satkosia Kuturi Wild Life Sanctuary Emerging Koraput/ Market And Ethinc Tour ( Tribal folk) and Bonda/ New Destination Onkadelli Market/ Chattikona Village Kondah/ Dongaria Tribe Cuttack Sadeibarini Art And Craft Emerging As per Department of Tourism, Government of India, the following destinations have been identified in 2016, which have immense opportunity to draw tourists into the State of Odisha o o Shaheed Nagar (Lunia), Devi Patana Mangala & Devi Barahi, Gohiratikiri in Bhadrak district Alukadar & Sitakunda in Mayurbhanj District ii) Campaign in mainstream and social media The state tourism department is all set to launch a massive outreach campaign on social media to attract tourists, mostly foreigners. A dedicated team is being formed to look after promotional activities of Odisha Tourism via Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, Pinterest, Youtube and Instagram. 36 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

37 Recently, the Indian Institute of Tourism and Travel Management was assigned by the ministry of tourism to conduct a survey on the use of social media to woo foreigners into India. According to the survey report, foreigners are increasingly taking to social media platforms to know more about Indian destinations. The report said 89.30% foreigners, who were questioned during the survey, had tried to explore more information related to India through social media for tourism purposes. Nearly 31.88% foreigners had explored the accommodation option through social media. iii) Some key steps taken to bring inflow of tourists A few key focussed initiatives taken by the State of Odisha has been depicted in the table below:- Name of the Initiative Investor Friendly Tourism Policy Dhauli Light and Sound Show Signing of MoU s With Air Asia With Aditya Birla Group Sponsoring Sports Activities Initiation of Odisha Water Sports Guidelines 2017 Revised Guidelines for identification of new tourism centres of Odisha Details of the Initiative Single Window clearance committee has cleared 36 tourism projects Light and sound show recreates Dhauli s eventful past To connect Kualalumpur with Bhubaneshwar. This is already in operation Operation and management of Interpretation Centre at Khandagiri & Udaygiri Extending Financial support to Indian Hockey League, 2nd Asian Athletic Championship and World Cup Hockey. Official sponsorship extension to Kalinga Lancers Team. Main idea is to protect tourist as well as operator interest and most importantly to ensure safety of tourists The main idea is to identify new spots in accordance with the culture and ethos of the State and attract tourists to the State from other important tourism centres in the country. Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 37

38 Ensuring safety & security of tourists 266 Life Guards have been deployed at Puri 35 Life Guards at Gopalpur Creation of Emergency Fund for financial assistance to tourists in disastrous situation Faster implementation of Shamuka beach project Outdoor Branding of Odisha Tourism Relaxing norms to visit PVTG areas IG International Airport, New Delhi CST International Airport, Mumbai BP International Airport, Bhubaneshwar Development of Coastal Circuit Mumbai Metro Train Development of Coastal circuit comprising of Gopalpur, Barkul, Satpada, Tamparain under Swadesh Darshan Scheme. This will enable faster domestic tourist flow 38 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

39 8 Primary Survey of Tourists visiting Odisha a) Voice of the Foreign Tourists - how do they perceiveodisha as a destination MRSS India has conducted survey of approx. 400 foreign tourists at major entry/ exit points as well as destinations. The synopsis of the findings is being presented in the ensuing pages:- i) Profile of the Foreign Tourists Source: MRSS Primary Survey Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 39

40 It is discernible from the profiling information above that majority of the respondents were males aged between years having Europe as their region of Origin and were either travelling alone or with colleagues. ii) Reasons for visiting Odisha Source: MRSS Primary Survey Odisha is considered a historically resourceful State while it also provides value for money against competition. iii) Source of Information As far as source of information for India is concerned, the following modes viz. India Tourism Offices, State Tourism Websites and Blogs/ Tweets/ Social Media postings are most sought after sources. Source: MRSS Primary Survey Approx. 93% of the respondents are satisfied with the information made available. 40 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

41 iv) Satisfaction with regard to various factors With regard to majority of parameters, the respondents were either very satisfied or quite satisfied with the facilities made available to them as depicted in the chart below. Source: MRSS Primary Survey v) Willingness to return to Odisha On the overall level 57% of the respondents have indicated that they would like to visit Odisha again. vi) Activities undertaken during Odisha Cultural visits still rule the roost. However, attending Business Meetings is also something which is very important for the visitors interviewed. Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 41

42 Source: MRSS Primary Survey b) Voice of the Domestic Tourists - how do they perceive Odisha as a destination MRSS India has conducted survey of approx. 400 domestic tourists at major entry/ exit points as well as destinations. The synopsis of the findings is being presented in the ensuing pages:- i) Profile of the Foreign Tourists 42 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

43 It can be observed from the profiling information above that majority of the respondents were males aged between years having West Bengal and Gujarat as their region of Origin and were travelling with family. ii) Reasons for visiting Odisha Source: MRSS Primary Survey Odisha is considered a historically resourceful State tourist friendly state. iii) Source of Information As far as source of information for India is concerned, the following modes viz. Word of Mouth, Publication and Blogs/ Tweets/ Social Media postings are most sought after sources. Source: MRSS Primary Survey Approx. 78% of the respondents are satisfied with the information made available. Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 43

44 iv) Satisfaction with regard to various factors With regard to majority of parameters, the respondents were either very satisfied or quite satisfied with the facilities made available to them as depicted in the chart below. v) Willingness to return to Odisha On the overall level 68% of the respondents have indicated that they would like to visit India. vi) Activities undertaken while in Odisha Cultural visits still rule the roost. However, attending Social/ religious function is also something which is very important for the visitors interviewed. 44 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

45 Fig 27: Activities undertaken while visiting Odisha Source: MRSS Primary Survey Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 45

46 FICCI MRSS Ten Point 9 Suggestions to boost tourism in the State Taking a peek at the various steps undertaken by the State Government, collated data as well as the State legacy FICCI MRSS suggests the following steps for the resurgence of Odisha as a new to the State :- a) Showcase investors the value in investing in ODISHA The investors have to be lured into Odisha by showcasing the rich cultural heritage and introducing new concepts conceived off/ implemented. While ROI will be an important factor in this, the investors would also like to choose Odisha based on the lucrative incentives and long term association it is going to enjoy with the State. b) Start an online newsletter especially for the investor / Tourist community This is going to be the document that is going to lure investor community. It would have snapshots of policy highlights, implementation steps in addition to the new investments made in certain fields. Database for such investors can be sourced from the various events that ODISHA Tourism, ODISHA department of Industries, ODISHA Investment Cell or can be sourced from participation of tourism fairs in different states. This can be introduced in a quarterly frequency and based on the popularity, can be converted into a monthly affair. c) Highlight model investments made in the State Model investments made in the State can be highlighted in the digital, print and electronic media and blasted at regular intervals to the relevant social and physical formats. d) Exploit the Digital Channel to disseminate investment success stories The State has a wide array of Digital Channels, which can be leveraged to disseminate the success stories. e) Reward and Recognition for largest investor/ best investor/ most innovative investor/ Green investor etc in ODISHA Tourism Mart recognition of Investors in an appropriate forum would help generating interest amongst the investor community and broadbase the investor base considerably. 46 Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism

47 f) Identify new Destinations, implement single window clearance to investors in lightning speed With the research wing in place, this is sure to speed up in coming times. This has to be done on a priority basis to keep the investors well informed about the emerging opportunities. g) Encourage Travel writers, Bloggers, Reviewers as a follow up action This would be a influence the influencer model of implementation. Encouraging these influencers to write about the investment climate in Odisha will help in generating awareness featuring positive stories about ODISHA as a favourite investment Destination in Tourism Properties h) Conduct a Satisfaction Survey for the Investors/ Tourists It is suggested that an Investor Confidence Survey may be conducted amongst Investors in Odisha Tourism vis a vis Investors in Tourism in adjoining States/ main crowd pullers. This will provide a few high points or learnings to work on. Ideally this should be done by appointing a third party agency having high level of expertise and experience in tracking the tourism market. i) Leverage the power of data Data and analytics are the mainstay of future. This needs to be leveraged and a dedicated insight session needs to be undertaken in order to provide relevant inputs to the state strategy team to streamline/ tweak campaigns and attract more tourists to the State. j) Learn from around the world Odisha State Tourism should take up specific case studies from around the world and emulate the methodology adopted in order to boost and sustain tourist flow. Odisha - Towards a new Disha in Tourism 47