OdishaLIVE Bureau
OdishaLIVE Exclusive interview with Swosti Group CMD JK Mohanty on the lines of Odisha Travel Bazaar 2018
OdishaLIVE Editor-in-Chief Mr. Nilambar Rath interacted with Swosti Group CMD and Chairman, Tourism Panel, FICCI Odisha Council Mr. JK Mohanty during the Odisha Travel Bazaar – OTB 201
8 about the tourism prospects of Odisha.
JK Mohanty said that Odisha Tourism is exploring the avenues to promote itself on foreign locations with branding and collaboration activities. Odisha Govt. has organized the Odisha Travel bazaar 2018 with more than 60 foreign tour operators coming in to buy destination Odisha for their clients, informed Mr. JK Mohanty.
On the familiarization trips (FAM Tour) to the Golden triangle, Chilika lake, Bhitarkanika Wildlife Sanctuary and the tribal areas, the tour operators were amazed to see the richness of the state’s culture and natural treasures, says Mr. JK Mohanty.
Mr. Mohanty goes on to say that the international tour operators were surprised at the vastness and diversity that Odisha has to offer instead of the other destinations in India which they were earlier promoting. More importantly, the operators are interested in the Chilika lake, the golden triangle of Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar, Bhitarkanika, the tribal areas among other places.
The Business to Business B2B meetings taking place at the OTB 2018 would immensely help the foreign buyers and the Indian sellers if they are able to establish contact between themselves and settle up for future collaboration.
Further, Mr. JK Mohanty praised the Tourism Policy of Odisha Government which incentivizes investment and development in the tourism sector to boost destination Odisha. He hoped that in the coming two to three years, tourism infrastructure in the state is coming up in a big way.
On being asked about the convergence of sports and tourism in Odisha, Mr. Mohanty pointed out that Bhubaneswar received a prominent place in the eyes of players who came from across the globe to participate in the Asian Athletics Championships 2017 AAC.
Likewise, the state stands to benefit from the government’s decision to combine sports with tourism ahead of the Odisha Hockey men’s World Cup 2018. Tourism would stand to gain from such a healthy union, says Mr. Mohanty.
Mr. Mohanty also lauded the efforts of FICCI, the industry partner for Odisha Travel Bazaar for a wonderful show and for doubling the number of foreign buyers from the inaugural year.
Lastly, Mr. JK Mohanty opined that as a long term impact of such events, tourism is going to be the driving force of the future economy of the state.
