Bhubaneswar, June 9: The scenic land famous for its virgin beaches, temple art, forest-based beautiful hill ranges and wildlife is all set for a major overhaul to attract more tourists from neighbouring states and abroad.

Odisha government recently took stock of the ground realities and discussed the prime requirement to promote tourism by developing communication and accommodation facilities for all the major destinations across the state.

The infrastructure development blueprint includes all 329 destinations identified in 30 districts. While the works and rural development departments were asked to concentrate on the road network development, accommodations will be ensured through government, public-private partnership or private initiatives near the tourist destinations. This will also include development of parking, toilet, cafeteria, landscaping, beautification and illumination.

While 20 projects were completed of the 34 initiated during the last decade, 14 new projects will be taken up for the 12th five-year plan. Coincidentally, The Telegraph had earlier suggested the specific site-based requirements for better tourism development in the region.

Principal secretary of state tourism and culture department Ashok Kumar Tripathy said: “The priority list of the Odisha government will include two mega circuits — the Buddhist mega circuit in Jajpur district and the phase-II of the Puri-Satapada-Bhubaneswar circuit. Two more circuits — Talsari-Dagra-Chandipur and Koraput-Rayagada-Kandhamal — will also be developed on priority basis. The government has submitted the detailed project reports for all the projects.”

Saying that besides the heritage and pilgrimage tourism, the emphasis will also be on eco-tourism, beach, experiential and cultural tourism, another senior tourism official said that while there was a 12 per cent growth in the footfall of domestic tourists, the growth in footfall of foreign tourists was 11 per cent in 2012. Odisha experienced a footfall of 90 lakh domestic and 65,000 foreign tourists in 2012.

Besides the circuit development plans with assistance from the Union ministry of tourism, the Odisha Tourism also plans to improve destinations such as Atharanala near Puri, Ekamra in Bhubaneswar and Chandrabhaga beach near Konark. Convention centres will also come up in Puri, Konark and Bhubaneswar. Central assistance will also be extended for the light and sound shows at Khandagiri-Udayagiri caves, Konark and Dhauli.

City-based tour operator Debasish Mohapatra said that infrastructure development in lesser-known places near the state capital that had tremendous tourism potential should be taken up at the earliest by the state government.

“There are many places around Bhubaneswar. But a proper survey is to be done to know the exact potential. Places such as Ranpur, Tampara and Ramchandi should be developed,” Mohapatra said.

On May 23, chief minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the progress of the projects across the state and asked the authorities concerned to put more stress on communication and accommodation facilities in tourism sector.

Odisha tourism is also planning to privatise its properties at different locations to earn more revenue and provide better services for the increasing tourist inflow. Already, two properties near the Buddhist circuit in Jajpur district have been given to a travel and tourism company in New Delhi to provide better facilities to tourists coming from the southeast Asian nations.

This step will also help to host travellers coming through the Mahaparinirvan Express which connects all the major Buddhist destinations of the country.