Puri, December 12 – The 7th edition of the Odisha Tourism’s flagship ‘Eco-Retreat’ event was inaugurated near Ramchandi Muhan on the Puri-Konark Marine Drive main road by Chief Minister Shri Mohan Charan Majhi. The Chief Minister lauded the event as the state government’s most attractive tourism initiative, noting its success and fame across India.
The inauguration ceremony saw Tourism Secretary Shri Balwant Singh welcome the Chief Minister. Deputy Chief Minister Shrimati Parvati Parida also offered suggestions for further organizing and establishing the eco-retreat at the international level.
Shri Majhi stated that the Odisha Eco-Retreat model, which features sites like Satkoshia, Bhitarkanika, Daringbadi, Sonapur, and Konark, has become an inspiration for other states and a national model for sustainable tourism. He highlighted its role in creating livelihoods for local people, promoting environmental awareness, and growing the local economy. The Chief Minister expressed hope that future state cabinet and ministerial meetings would also be held at various eco-retreat venues in Odisha’s famous tourist destinations.
Shri Majhi outlined a clear and ambitious vision for tourism’s role in the state’s development under ‘Vision Odisha.’ The state has embarked on a journey to play a leading role in building a prosperous Odisha by 2036 and a developed India by 2047. The Chief Minister stressed that tourism is a crucial sector for creating large-scale employment, especially among lower-income groups, and promoting the state’s rich heritage, culture, traditions, food, and lifestyle.
The key goals under Vision Odisha include: Achieving a place among the top 5 Eco-Cultural Tourism Hubs in Asia, Developing at least 15 iconic tourist places, Creating 2.5 million livelihoods through the sector and Targeting an annual influx of 50 million domestic tourists and 700,000 foreign tourists by 2047.
To handle the expected significant increase in tourist arrivals and achieve these ambitious targets, the Chief Minister emphasized that the usual development model is insufficient. He underscored the necessity of implementing the Public-Private Partnership (PPP) mode in the tourism sector, assuring that the government will prioritize this approach and take necessary steps in the coming days.
Prominent guests at the inauguration included Pipili MLA Shri Ashrit Patnaik, Kakatpur MLA Shri Tusharkanti Behera, Satyabadi MLA Shri Om Prakash Mishra, Brahmagiri MLA Smt. Upasana Mohapatra, Puri MLA Sunil Mohanty, and District Collector Shri Dibyajyoti Parida.