Bhubaneswar, April 28: Odisha Tourism is planning to open more information centres and publish printed material for dissemination of information to tourists about various places in and around the state capital.

Feedback received from various tour operators and tourists revealed there is a huge gap in the demand and supply of information booklets on the tourist places. Absence of information centres and kiosks are also creating problems for the tourists who want more information on historical facts.

The information centres will be opened at all major locations in Bhubaneswar or tourist places within a 30-km radius. Tourists will be supplied with compact material where information will be available on all the temples in Old Town, tribal museum, Regional Museum of Natural History, Regional Science Centre, Pathani Samanta Planetarium, State Museum, Ekamra Vana, Nandankanan, Khandagiri-Udayagiri, Dhauli, 64 Yogini temple, Regional Plant Resource Centre inside the city and Khurda fort, Barunei hills and Chandaka-Dampara Sanctuary on the city outskirts and Dasia Bauri Peetha and Pipili on the Bhubaneswar-Puri road.

Rajesh Singla, a chartered accountant from New Delhi, visited Dhauli last week after hearing about the historic place from a hotel employee in the city. His wife Poonam, and their friends Pradeep Rekhi with wife Neha were with Rajesh.

“I am overwhelmed to know the place and the history behind it, but there is no detailed information available at the place. A few lines are engraved on the temple wall of the Kalinga Nippon Sangha near the International Peace Pagoda. There should be proper dissemination of information on the major tourist places, at least in and around the state capital,” Rajesh said.

The Singlas and Rekhis visited other Buddhist places in India and abroad. As Dhauli was a major turning point in the history of Buddhism and its spread in the world, they suggested that the Odisha Tourism and also the private players should start a special campaign to educate tourists on the historic background.

Principal secretary, tourism, Ashok Kumar Tripathy said: “We have realised information dissemination is a major area to be explored so that our visitors get to know about the monuments in and around the city. We want that visitors get all the information and witness the local crafts being made around each monument.’’

The department has selected a spot near the newly opened Dhauli Crafts Bazaar for an information kiosk. There will be more such centres near other monuments. Other agencies will also provide tourists with travel information if required.

Sources said the Odisha Tourism will also take the Dhauli model to all tourist places around the city and other monuments across the state, where apart from information dissemination, local crafts will be displayed.

“Tourists to Bhubaneswar require a guide for sight-seeing. But there are still many things to be done in this regard. I think people from private sector should also come forward to extend their support. Various industrial houses can take up the task with their community social responsibility activities,” said Sapan Sadual, faculty member of a tourism institute in the city.