Bhubaneswar, Sept. 25: The Orissa Tourism Development Corporation (OTDC) has finally started offering a number of packaged tours to attract both budget and high-end tourists.

The packaged tour programme started during the car festival targeting non-resident Indians and OTDC later announced packages for budget tourists. The tour starts from Bhubaneswar, followed by a visit to Sun Temple, the Archaeological Survey of India Museum at Konark, Chandrabhaga beach, a view of rath yatra on the Grand Road, a visit to Satapada, famous for Irrawady dolphins in Chilika lake, a cruise on the lake and a visit to sea-mouth and Rajhans island.

After the car festival, the OTDC started another package with an aim to attract post-monsoon tourists, mainly from the corporate sector and those coming from neighbouring states, especially from Bengal.

For the first time, short-destination weekend packages involving Nandankanan-Chandaka Sanctuary, Ramachandi-Konark tour via the beautiful Puri-Konark Marine Drive, a water park on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar and state museum, Dhauli and the tribal museum were introduced on September 6. However, the recent floods affected the plan.

Though there are a large number of choices, the state tourism department has been unable to cash in on the opportunities which could have earned a lot of revenue for the state government.

Since the state has a treasure-trove of the Buddhist and Jain historical sites, many of them could be connected to the state capital by road which would enhance the tourism potential.

With Puja around the corner, the tourism authorities are set to start a special tour package for Durga Puja and Gajalaxmi Puja of Dhenkanal. Gajalaxmi Puja coincides with the famous Dhenkanal Mahotsav, the biggest festival in the district, that will start on October 1.

OTDC marketing manager Alok Mishra said: “People can celebrate Puja with OTDC through economic packages and the tour will start from Panthanivas, Bhubaneswar, on October 1. The first package will include Chilika (Satapada), Puri and back in a day-long tour. It will include a cruise on the Chilika, sightseeing, Irrawady dolphins and visiting the Jagannath Temple. With air-conditioned transport, boating and lunch, the package will cost Rs 670 per person.”

Another package including a cruise on the Chilika and sightseeing at Barkul, Kalijai, Narayani and back will cost Rs 610 per person, a package for Barunei Hills, Ugratara and back will cost Rs 215 per person. However, the Barunei package will not include food. Likewise, a visit to Ghatagaon Tarini Temple with AC transport and “prasad” will cost a visitor Rs 610.

Though tour operators insist that there should be provisions for internet booking for better marketing, OTDC is still banking on traditional methods.

The tour operators added that the tourism department should think about selling tickets from multiple locations and counters and include more places in their packages.

Tourism officials, however, added that there were plans to have more packaged tours to other destinations, especially the tribal pockets.