Bhubaneswar: To strengthen the city's tourism potential and attract global footfall, the state government has decided to offer special tour packages to players, delegates and visitors during the men's hockey world cup in November.

The state tourism department has been assigned the task to design the tour packages, which will remain different from the ones being offered to tourists now.

Sources said the packages would be designed in a manner that will suit a varied section of people and also remain affordable.

The idea was proposed by the core committee of government looking after proper arrangements for hosting the men's hockey world cup. Sources said that top 16 hockey nations would participate in the event, which will see an inflow of more than 10,000 fans and spectators from across the world.

"There will be an opportunity for the spectators to explore the tourist spots of Bhubaneswar, Konark and Puri since the matches are scheduled to be held in the evenings. It would be a great opportunity for the visitors as well as us to take the platform to showcase the state's tourism potential," said an official of sports and youth affairs department.

Sources said the tourism department would prepare one, two and three-day tour packages to be uploaded on the websites of International Hockey Federation, the world cup organiser.

"It is the greatest opportunity for the state government to showcase the tourism power of Odisha. The state does have a great tourism potential, but due to less branding options, the inflow of tourists is comparatively low. The hockey world cup is a great platform to be used here," said tour operator Piyush Tripathy.

The government has decided to start special bus routes to link major tourist spots in the city during the event.