Students take part in a rally on World Tourism Day in Bhubaneswar on Saturday. Picture by Sanjib Mukherjee

Bhubaneswar, Sept. 27: Youngsters from various colleges across the city today took part in a procession to celebrate the World Tourism Day organised by the state tourism department.

The hour-long march began at Master Canteen Square and concluded at Ekamra Haat.

Onlookers cheered as the procession, in which 300-odd students mostly from tourism and hotel management institutes took part, passed by carrying placards and banners emphasising the importance of promoting tourism.

While traditional dancers presenting folk dances of the state led the procession, hoteliers, travel agent employees and drivers of pink autos (autorickshaws meant for women passengers) also took part in the parade.

In the 2-km stretch, four raised platforms were set up where another troupe of artistes performed folk dances, including ghoda nacha, Sambalpuri dance, gotipua and ghumura.

The students were enthused and they too danced to the traditional beats throughout the procession.

Tourism and culture minister Ashok Chandra Panda said: “Each time we travel to Puri and drink coconut water on the way or buy products from a local market there, we empower the local communities. Hence, tourism has the potential to create livelihood opportunities for the local people along with providing plans for sustainable development of the communities.”

Competitions such as debate, photography, quiz and painting were also organised on the occasion. The winners were awarded at a function organised at Rabindra Mandap in the evening that was followed by cultural performances. The celebrations also included welcoming tourists at places such as the Konark Sun Temple, the railway station and the airport. Students from the local colleges welcomed tourists, especially the foreign visitors, in a traditional way with aarti and tika.